HF 2673 (LSB 5993HV (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2673

BY  COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 598)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the operation of driverless-capable vehicles transporting hazardous materials, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.515, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  a.  A Except as provided in paragraph “b”, a driverless-capable vehicle may operate on the public highways of this state without a conventional human driver physically present in the vehicle, if the vehicle meets all of the following conditions:
   a.  (1)  The vehicle is capable of achieving a minimal risk condition if a malfunction of the automated driving system occurs that renders the system unable to perform the entire dynamic driving task within the system’s intended operational design domain, if any.
   b.  (2)  While in driverless operation, the vehicle is capable of operating in compliance with the applicable traffic and motor vehicle safety laws and regulations of this state that govern the performance of the dynamic driving task, unless an exemption has been granted to the vehicle by the department.
   c.  (3)  The vehicle has been certified by the vehicle’s manufacturer to be in compliance with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards, except to the extent an exemption has been granted for the vehicle under applicable federal law or by the national highway traffic safety administration.
   b.  A driverless-capable vehicle transporting hazardous material, as defined in section 321.1, subsection 31, shall not operate without a conventional human driver.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, a driverless-capable vehicle equipped with an automated driving system and meeting certain requirements is authorized to operate on highways while performing all real-time operational and tactical functions (dynamic driving task) regardless of whether a conventional human driver is present in the vehicle. The operation of a driverless-capable vehicle is governed by Code sections 321.514 through 321.519 and all applicable traffic and motor vehicle safety laws.
   This bill prohibits a driverless-capable vehicle transporting hazardous material from operating without a conventional human driver. “Hazardous material” is defined for purposes of Code chapter 321 as a substance or material which has been determined by the U.S. secretary of transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and which has been so designated. By operation of law, a person who violates this provision commits a simple misdemeanor pursuant to Code section 321.482. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855.