Senate committee approves autonomous vehicle testing, excludes large commercial vehicles

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved legislation that would authorize testing and development of self-driving vehicles, exempting them from future regulatory blocks. This legislation does not include large commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs. 

The American Vision for Safer Transportation Through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies (AV START) Act:  

• Requires manufacturers to submit safety evaluation reports to the Secretary of Transportation prior to the testing or deployment of a self-driving vehicle.
• Ensures the Department of Transportation’s continued responsibility for automated vehicle design, construction and performance while maintaining state and local roles in determining traffic laws, registration and licensing.
• Expands the Secretary’s existing discretionary authority to implement an enhanced review and approval process for federal motor vehicle safety standards.
• Directs the Department of Transportation to "act quickly" to modernize existing federal motor vehicle safety standards.
• Directs the Secretary of Transportation to work with manufacturers to adopt policies related to potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities. 
• Requires manufacturers to develop and execute a comprehensive written plan for identifying and reducing cybersecurity risks to self-driving vehicles.
• Establishes a committee of experts to identify and develop recommended standards. Headed by the Secretary of Transportation, the committee will serve as a forum for stakeholders to make recommendations for these and other standards governing self-driving vehicles.
• Advances guidelines on responsible consumer education and marketing.
• Prevents the denial of a license to operate a self-driving vehicle on the basis of a disability.

Within three years, the bill would allow automakers to each sell up to 80,000 self-driving vehicles annually if they can demonstrate they are as safe as current vehicles.