HLS 14RS-4208 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 133
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEGER
MOTOR VEHICLES: Urges and requests the DOTD to study autonomous vehicles
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the Department of Transportation and Development to begin studying2
and testing autonomous motor vehicles and consider the promulgation of rules for3
the safe operation of such vehicles on the roads of the state.4
WHEREAS, "autonomous motor vehicle" means a vehicle equipped with technology5
that has the capability to drive the vehicle without active control or monitoring by a human6
operator; a vehicle equipped with active safety systems or driver assistance systems,7
including a system to provide electronic blind spot assistance, crash avoidance, emergency8
braking, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assistance, lane departure9
warning, or traffic jam and queuing assistance is not an autonomous vehicle unless the10
system alone or in combination with other systems enables the vehicle on which the11
technology is installed to drive without active control or monitoring by a human operator;12
and13
WHEREAS, significant advances have been made in both technology and legislation14
relevant to autonomous motor vehicles with numerous major companies and research15
organizations developing working prototype autonomous vehicles, including Mercedes-16
Benz, General Motors, Nissan, Toyota, Audi, Volvo, Oxford University, and Google, and17
as of 2013, four U.S. states have passed laws permitting autonomous vehicles which vehicles18
could be available to the public in the next ten to twenty years; and19 HLS 14RS-4208 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 133
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WHEREAS, autonomous vehicles could significantly reduce traffic fatalities and1
crashes by reducing or eliminating driver error, which is a contributing factor in over ninety2
percent of all crashes; and3
WHEREAS, autonomous vehicles could reduce congestion and improve fuel4
economy through better utilization of existing highway capacity and more efficient operation5
of the vehicle's acceleration and braking controls.6
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the7
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Transportation and8
Development to begin studying and testing autonomous motor vehicles.9
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation and10
Development consider the promulgation of regulations authorizing the operation of11
autonomous motor vehicles on roadways within the state with the regulations including the12
following:13
(1) Requirements that an autonomous motor vehicle must meet before it may be14
operated on a roadway within this state.15
(2) Minimum safety standards for autonomous vehicles and their operation.16
(3) Testing and development of autonomous motor vehicles.17
(4) Restriction of the testing of autonomous motor vehicles to specific geographic18
areas.19
(5) Other requirements as the department determines to be necessary.20
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of the Department of21
Transportation and Development shall submit a report to the House Committee on22
Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Transportation,23
Highways and Public Works recommending legislation or regulatory action that may be24
required for the safe use of autonomous vehicles prior to the final adjournment of the 201625
Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.26 HLS 14RS-4208 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 133
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Leger HR No. 133
Urges and requests the DOTD to study and conduct testing of autonomous motor vehicles.