Regulatory Assessment for Remote Assistance and Remote Driving

Automated driving systems (ADS) may rely on assistance from remote users. This operation may take the form of remote assistance, also referred to as teleassistance, where a remote user provides strategic advice to an ADS encountering a situation it cannot manage. In other instances, it may take the form of remote driving, also referred to as teleoperations or remote operations, where the remote user performs some or all of the real-time dynamic driving task (DDT) including braking, steering, acceleration, and transmission shifting. Although these technologies are actively in use, there is little understanding of the technological, operational, and legal challenges associated with their use from a government perspective. There are no standards governing minimum performance requirements of these systems such as minimum latency, network uptime, operator response time, minimum staffing levels, and remote user training standards. Many state ADS laws do not address remote users, and when they do, they merely require a valid license. Additionally, no state currently requires ADS to disclose to passengers when they are being controlled by remote drivers. Given the unknowns and potential safety concerns, more information is needed that can be used to develop more receptive regulations and standards, as well as better awareness of passengers utilizing these technologies

• Record URL:
  • https://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/SPR/Research/reportsandplans/Lists/Final%20Reports%20All/Item/displayifs.aspx?List=47f3581d%2Df21c%2D403b%2D9358%2Dfea0b008772b&ID=827&Source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Edot%2Estate%2Eoh%2Eus%2FDivisions%2FPlanning%2FSPR%2FResearch%2Freportsandplans%2FLists%2FFinal%2520Reports%2520All%2FAllItems%2Easpx%3FuseFiltersInViewXml%3D1%26FilterField1%3DCategories%26FilterValue1%3DDriveOhio%26FilterType1%3DMultiChoice%26FilterField2%3DResearch%255Fx0020%255FOrganization%26FilterValue2%3DKittelson%2520%2526%2520Associates%26FilterType2%3DChoice&ContentTypeId=0x0100BD006C89430C884FB603A74E63BB6849&RootFolder=%2FDivisions%2FPlanning%2FSPR%2FResearch%2Freportsandplans%2FLists%2FFinal%20Reports%20All.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $268,221.58
• Contract Numbers:

  43586

  136131

  111455

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Ohio Department of Transportation

  Research Program
  1980 West Broad Street
  Columbus, OH  United States  43223
• Project Managers:

  Lucas, Michelle

• Performing Organizations:

  Kittelson and Associates, Incorporated

  610 S.W. Alder Street
  Portland, OR  United States  97205
• Principal Investigators:

  Morgan, Abby

• Start Date: 20260212
• Expected Completion Date: 20270212
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Driver support systems; Regulation; Remote control; Standards
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01978547
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Ohio Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 43586, 136131, 111455
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 3 2026 5:28PM