A state Senate panel cleared a bill that would create a pilot program for fully autonomous vehicles on the streets of New Jersey.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation, with consultation from the Motor Vehicle Commission, would be charged with leading the three-year pilot program, which would allow testers to operate the vehicles in New Jersey. State Sens. Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick) and Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood) sponsor the legislation.
“New Jersey has the opportunity to lead the northeast in developing safe and efficient autonomous vehicle technology that will revolutionize how we travel,” Zwicker said. “By initiating this program, we will lay the groundwork for massive improvements to our transit infrastructure, building off of years of autonomous vehicle research to improve public safety and expand access to reliable transportation.”
The state Senate Transportation Committee cleared the bill unanimously on Monday.
A nine-member task force would oversee the pilot program: a public safety official, a transportation expert, an autonomous vehicle developer, an automobile insurance industry representative, a motor vehicle dealer representative, a consumer advocate, an NJDOT representative, and two commission representatives.
Under the bill, all autonomous vehicle collisions must be reported to the NJDOT within five days, and the task force would provide monthly status reports on the program. The task force would also be required to solicit public feedback, help create protocols related to collisions, and protect against cyberattacks and operational disruptions.
“Autonomous vehicle technology is rapidly advancing, and we must work to ensure that it is safe before its full implementation on our roads,” Johnson said. “This program establishes strong safeguards and clear oversight measures that will allow the state to responsibly evaluate the technology without risking the safety of our communities.”