BILL NUMBER: SB 431AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 21, 2015 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 6, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Senator Beall FEBRUARY 25, 2015 An act to amend Sections 21703 and 21705 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 431, as amended, Beall. Vehicles: driver-assistive truck platooning. Existing law prohibits a driver of a motor vehicle from following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of the vehicle and the traffic upon, and the condition of, the roadway. This bill would require a determination of a reasonable and prudent distance between 2 vehicles, for those purposes, to take into account presence of vehicle automation technology, as described. 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 thatthe 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.a caravan or motorcade consists of 3 or more motor vehicles. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 21703 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 21703. (a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of the vehicle and the traffic upon, and the condition of, the roadway. (b) A determination of a reasonable and prudent distance between two vehicles for purposes of subdivision (a) shall take into account the presence of vehicle automation technology, including, but not limited to, a driver-assistive truck platooning system. (c) For the purposes of this section, "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. 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 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.(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.(b) For purposes of this section, a caravan or motorcade consists of three or more motor vehicles. 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.