By Phil Riske
Managing Editor, Rose Law Group Reporter
STATE CAPITOL—The day when texting or putting on makeup while driving in Arizona becomes totally acceptable could be only five years down the road if travel by “autonomous vehicles” is approved by federal and state governments.
Were “smart” or “driverless” cars available now, Rep. Victoria Steele (D-Tucson) could read her e-mails while driving to Phoenix, she told the House Transportation Committee last week. If her car’s computers sensed a problem, they would guide it to a safe place off the freeway. Or when she arrives at the Capitol, she would exit the vehicle, and it would park itself.
The committee held an information-only hearing on HB2167 sponsored by Rep. Jeff Dial (R-Chandler).
“We’re about to see the biggest change in human society since the Internet,” said Dial, who is taking a second run at his autonomous motor vehicle bill, which is modeled after Florida legislation. Nevada, California and Florida permit limited use of autonomous vehicles on their roadways.
Arizona law defines such a vehicle as having the “capability to drive without active control or monitoring by a human operator.”
“It has to be safer than humans,” Dial told the committee.
Google and Continental are hopeful to have autonomous vehicles on the road within the next five years. Google test cars use global positioning systems and light-detecting and ranging.
Google said that after 400,000 hours of testing, not a single mishap related to the automation.
Dial says the chief provision of his bill, which needs to clear the Rules Committee, deals with “’who is responsible” for driverless vehicles. It specifies a person is deemed to be the operator of an autonomous motor vehicle if the person engages the autonomous mode, regardless of whether the person is physically present.
The bill would requires a report from the Arizona Department of Transportation in 2015 recommending additional legislative or regulatory action.
Dial said the driverless technology could lead to reduction of traffic injuries and fatalities.
“The insurance industry would be happy,” he said.
On the other hand, elimination of speeding through the technology would cost government jurisdictions a sizeable loss in revenue from speeding tickets.
Rep. Juan Carlos Escamilla (D-San Luis) said driverless cars would be an advantage to disabled people.
Tucson’s Steele said, “We should go forward with great caution, but welcoming it.”
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