North Dakota Senate committee steers toward study of autonomous vehicles
BISMARCKA North Dakota Senate committee is seeking to study autonomous vehicle regulations as automakers asked legislators Thursday, March 23, to avoid hampering the technology's development.
The Senate Transportation Committee gave a unanimous "do-pass" recommendation to a bill requiring the state Department of Transportation to work with the autonomous vehicle technology industry on a study of current laws on licensing, registration, insurance, data ownership and inspections. It would require the DOT to suggest any law changes to the next legislative assembly.
House Bill 1202 originally required the DOT director to adopt regulations on integrating and testing "automated driving system equipped vehicles" on public highways. But the bill's primary sponsor offered an amendment Thursday to study the issue instead.
"Every major manufacturer is working on this right now," said Rep. Dan Ruby, R-Minot, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee. He noted there are several classes of automated technology, some of which are already in use today, such as parking assistance.
Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/4239631-nd-senate-committee-steers-toward-study-autonomous-vehicles