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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 any 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 any control or monitoring by a human operator; and12
WHEREAS, significant advances have been made in both technology and legislation13
relevant to autonomous motor vehicles with numerous major companies and research14
organizations developing working prototype autonomous vehicles, including Mercedes-15
Benz, General Motors, Nissan, Toyota, Audi, Volvo, Oxford University, and Google, and16
as of 2013, four U.S. states have passed laws permitting autonomous vehicles and such17
vehicles could be available to the public in the next ten to twenty years; and18
WHEREAS, autonomous vehicles could significantly reduce traffic fatalities and19
crashes by reducing or eliminating driver error, which is a contributing factor in over ninety20
percent of all crashes; and21 HLS 14RS-4208 ENGROSSED
HR NO. 133
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WHEREAS, autonomous vehicles could reduce congestion and improve fuel1
economy through better utilization of existing highway capacity and more efficient operation2
of the vehicle's acceleration and braking controls.3
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the4
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Transportation and5
Development to begin studying and testing autonomous motor vehicles.6
BE IT FURTHER RESOL VED that the Department of Transportation and7
Development, as part of its study, determine the need for statutory authority or the8
promulgation of regulations regarding the operation of autonomous motor vehicles on9
roadways within the state.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of the Department of11
Transportation and Development shall submit a report to the House Committee on12
Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Transportation,13
Highways and Public Works recommending legislation or regulatory action that may be14
required for the safe use of autonomous vehicles prior to the final adjournment of the 201615
Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.16
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.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Transportation, Highways
and Public Works to the original bill.
1. Clarified that "autonomous motor vehicle" means a vehicle equipped with
technology that has the capability to drive the vehicle without any control or
monitoring by a human operator.
2. Made a technical change.
3. Clarified that the Department of Transportation and Development should
determine need for statutory authority or the promulgation of regulations
regarding the operation of autonomous motor vehicles in the state.
4. Removed the list of recommended regulations to be promulgated by the
department.