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House Subcommittee Panel Unanimously Approves Self-Driving Legislation

The Energy and Commerce Committee’s Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection panel unanimously approved a bill that would be Congress’s first attempt at adopting laws for autonomous vehicles. The bill’s bipartisan support was due in part to the Republican leadership’s adoption of Democratic proposals on safety oversight by federal regulators. In essence, the bill would allow...

The FTC and NHTSA Plan Workshop on Vehicles and Cybersecurity

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are hosting a public workshop to discuss consumer privacy issues posed by technological developments in vehicles, particularly those with some form of wireless connectivity. The potential dangers to consumers from such connected vehicles are significant, as one estimate provides that by 2020...

Texas Law Permits Free Operation of Autonomous Vehicles

A bill recently signed in Texas, which becomes effective in September, allows autonomous vehicles to operate freely on state roads–without a driver’s supervision. The law requires the autonomous vehicles to be in compliance with federal laws and safety standards, to be registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, to be covered by insurance, and to have a...

How Patchwork State Regulations Could Benefit Driverless Cars

Several states have taken legislative, regulatory, or executive action to address the prospect of driverless vehicles. Although a “patchwork of regulations” that vary from state to state will be unsustainable in the long run, there may be benefits to the “laboratories of democracy” in the short term. As autonomous vehicle technology develops, different states will choose to balance...

Georgia Passes Legislation Allowing Autonomous Vehicles on the Road

In its recently-concluded legislative session, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill that would allow autonomous vehicles on the road. The law exempts driverless vehicles from the requirement to be operated by a licensed driver as long as the vehicle is fully autonomous and the automated driving system is engaged; indeed, under the new law, such vehicles may be operated on the...

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