California Senate Bill SB431 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 431INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Beall FEBRUARY 25, 2015 An act to amend Section 21705 of, and to add Article 18 (commencing with Section 28200) to Chapter 5 of Division 12 of, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 431, as introduced, Beall. Vehicles: driver-assistive truck platooning. Existing law requires motor vehicles being driven in a caravan or motorcade outside of a business or residence district to be operated so as to allow sufficient space, and in no event less than 100 feet, between each vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to overtake or pass. This bill would provide that the above provision does not apply to a vehicle equipped with a driver-assistive truck platooning system, as defined, that is being driven upon a highway with 2 or more lanes of traffic in the direction of travel. Existing law prohibits the operation of any vehicle or combination of vehicles that is not equipped as provided. Existing law also prohibits vehicles from being equipped with certain equipment, including, among others, jamming devices. This bill would authorize the Department of Transportation to conduct a demonstration project to test the use of driver-assistive truck platooning systems with 2 vehicles in the platoon. The bill would require the Department of Transportation, if it authorizes a demonstration project pursuant to that provision, to coordinate with the Department of the California Highway Patrol to determine which types of vehicles and which streets and highways should be included in the demonstration project, provided that only streets and highways where driver-assistive truck platooning systems are likely to be frequently utilized shall be included in the demonstration project. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 21705 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 21705.  (a)    Motor vehicles being driven outside of a business or residence district in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not towing other vehicles, shall be  so  operated  so  as to allow sufficient  space   space,  and in no event less than 100  feet   feet,  between each vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to overtake or pass.  (b) (1) This section does not apply to a vehicle equipped with a driver-assistive truck platooning system that is being driven upon a highway with two or more lanes for traffic in the direction of travel.   (2) For the purposes of this subdivision, "driver-assistive truck platooning system" means vehicle automation technology that integrates sensor array, wireless communications, vehicle controls, and specialized software to synchronize acceleration and braking between two vehicles, while leaving each vehicle's steering control and systems command in the control of its driver.  SEC. 2. Article 18 (commencing with Section 28200) is added to Chapter 5 of Division 12 of the Vehicle Code, to read: Article 18. Driver-Assistive Truck Platooning 28200. (a) The Department of Transportation may conduct a demonstration project to test the use of driver-assistive truck platooning systems with two vehicles in the platoon. If the Department of Transportation authorizes a demonstration project pursuant to this section, it shall coordinate with the Department of the California Highway Patrol to determine which types of vehicles and which streets and highways should be included in the demonstration project. Only streets and highways where driver-assistive truck platooning systems are likely to be frequently utilized shall be included in the demonstration project. (b) For the purposes of this article, "driver-assistive truck platooning systems" has the same meaning as in Section 21705. SEC. 3. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order to take advantage of federal funds that are currently available to states for the purpose of testing automated vehicle technologies on roads and highways, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.