September 20, 2024

Texas Proposes Special Permits for Autonomous Vehicle Fleets

Steve Smith

Texas Proposes Special Permits for Autonomous Vehicle Fleets

Texas lawmakers are pushing for a new law that would require autonomous vehicle fleets to get special permits and registration before hitting the roads.

What's happening: The proposed legislation aims to regulate autonomous commercial vehicles and passenger cars by making companies inform the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles before deploying driverless vehicles.

These rules would apply to fleets, not private driverless cars.
The goal is to monitor any issues and possibly restrict a company's use of driverless vehicles if needed.

What they're saying: "The state needs a set of rules," said state Senator Robert Nichols, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. "We do not want to disrupt the industry's progress, but we want oversight."

Why it matters: Currently, federal law only requires autonomous vehicle manufacturers to report collisions.

Texas aims to balance innovation with regulation reported the Houston Chronicle.

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