As of September 1, one state said goodbye to self-driving cars as we know them and is now enforcing new rules regarding these autonomous vehicles (AVs). This means a change for big autonomous companies like Waymo and Tesla. The change has come under public scrutiny and has posed safety concerns due to the number of driverless vehicles in this state. As per the implementation of Senate Bill 2807, the formal goodbye to self-driving cars will happen during the early stages of AV adoption. The introduction is now creating a new reality.
The first state to acquire AV permits is now saying goodbye to AV vehicles
Under SB 2807, any company operating fully autonomous vehicles in the state will need to acquire operational permits from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). This is an official turning point in terms of the AV policy in the state. After Tesla rolled out its Robotaxi service in Austin, Tesla will face some difficulty due to the new regulatory policy and increasing obligations.
According to the new law:
- AV permits could be revoked or renewed
- Emergency response protocols will be required
- Compliance will be ensured with safety rules
While certain cities in the state cannot directly enforce regulation policies, the state is allowing state-level authorities to ensure oversight mechanisms are in place going forward.
The changing rules based on safety for the state
Although thus far there have been no crash rates, AVs behave in unpredictable ways. It was a senior business consultant, Rachel Castignoli, who expressed that AVs found it difficult to interpret police hand signals. Waymo must now submit first responder safety plans and take part in ongoing training programs.
Over 1,000 responders in Austin were trained and received third-party validation from TÜV SÜD, a global inspection and certification authority. However, many of the state’s citizens are all in favor of the tighter regulations.
Autonomous vehicles are facing challenges in the state due to tighter regulations
AV companies are well aware that tighter regulation means a step towards long-term trust and safety. A heavier burden has been placed on AV operators like Tesla and Waymo. For Tesla, the challenge may be complications regarding expanding the Robotaxi fleet.
When Tesla’s Robotaxi finally hit the roads, Texas was the chosen state for the testing. The loosened controls in Texas made the state seem like the most lucrative option at that point. As per the new law in this particular state, a challenge is posed to AVs that generally operate without real-time city data. However, all companies ought to coordinate with state agencies to ensure operations that do not cause any risks to public safety.
Tighter control on AVs means a move towards embracing regulation
The state of Texas is looking at implementing AV regulations, and this tighter control model is one that other U.S. states may choose to follow suit with. Since the AV industry is maturing, there is a more dire need for clear legal and safety frameworks.
Now that the Texas Senate Bill 2807 has taken effect since September 1, autonomous vehicles in Texas will have to find a whole new way. The hands-off approach no longer sticks, and now the chapter for self-driving technology is being rewritten completely by the state of Texas.
As is, Texas has been looking at expanding road rules as a whole, and thus, this is an expanded road rule that has come in rather recently. As per this driving law in Texas, there is a $4,000 fine for not abiding by certain rules. TxDOT started the “Be Safe” campaign, which also led to the “Drive Smart” campaign in favor of spreading the “Move Over or Slow Down” law that has severe punishment for offenders.
