Sec. 5304. Study on safe interactions between automated vehicles and road users
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The purpose of this section shall be to ensure that the increasing deployment of automated vehicles does not jeopardize the safety of road users. Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall initiate a study on the ability of automated vehicles to safely interact with other road users. In carrying out the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— examine the ability of automated vehicles to safely interact with general road users, including vulnerable road users; identify barriers to improving the safety of interactions between automated vehicles and general road users; and issue recommendations to improve the safety of interactions between automated vehicles and general road users, including, at a minimum— technology advancements with the potential to facilitate safer interactions between automated vehicles and general road users given the safety considerations in paragraph (3); road user public awareness; and improvements to transportation planning and road design.
In carrying out the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into consideration whether automated vehicles can safely operate within the surface transportation system, including— the degree to which ordinary human behaviors make it difficult for an automated vehicle to safely, reliably predict human actions; unique challenges for automated vehicles in urban and rural areas; the degree to which an automated vehicle is capable of uniformly recognizing and responding to individuals with disabilities and individuals of different sizes, ages, races, and other varying characteristics; for bicyclist, motorcyclist, and pedestrian road users— the varying and non-standardized nature of bicyclist and pedestrian infrastructure in different locations; the close proximity to motor vehicles within which bicyclists often operate, including riding in unprotected bike lanes and crossing lanes to make a left turn, and the risk of such close proximity; and roadways that lack marked bicyclist infrastructure, particularly in midsized and rural areas, on which bicyclists often operate; for motorcyclist road users, the close proximity to other motor vehicles within which motorcyclists operate, including lane splitting; and depending on the level of automation of the vehicle, the degree to which human intervention remains necessary to safely operate an automated vehicle to ensure the safety of general road users in circumstances including— dangerous weather; an electronic or system malfunction of the automated vehicle; and a cybersecurity threat to the operation of the vehicle.
Before conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the study proposal. Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish a working group to assist in the development of the study and recommendations under subsection (b). The working group established under paragraph
(1)shall include representation from— the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; State departments of transportation; local governments (other than metropolitan planning organizations, as such term is defined in section 134(b) of title 23, United States Code); transit agencies; metropolitan planning organizations (as such term is defined in section 134(b) of title 23, United States Code); bicycle and pedestrian safety groups; highway and automobile safety groups; truck safety groups; law enforcement officers and first responders; motor carriers and independent owner-operators; the road construction industry; labor organizations; academic experts on automated vehicle technologies; manufacturers and developers of both passenger and commercial automated vehicles; a motorcyclist rights group; and other industries and entities as the Secretary determines appropriate. The working group established under paragraph
(1)shall assist the Secretary by, at a minimum— assisting in the development of the scope of the study under subsection (b); reviewing the data and analysis from such study; provide ongoing recommendations and feedback to ensure that such study reflects the contents described in paragraphs
(2)and
(3)of subsection (b); and providing input to the Secretary on recommendations required under subsection (b)(2)(C). The working group under this subsection shall be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), except that section 14 of such Act shall not apply. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly available, the study initiated under subsection (b), including recommendations for ensuring that automated vehicles safely interact with general road users. In this section: The term automated vehicle means a motor vehicle equipped with Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5 automated driving systems for all trips according to the recommended practice standards published on June 15, 2018 by the Society of Automotive Engineers International (J3016_201806) or equivalent standards adopted by the Secretary with respect to automated motor vehicles. The term general road users means— motor vehicles driven by individuals; bicyclists and pedestrians; motorcyclists; workers in roadside construction zones; emergency response vehicles, including first responders; vehicles providing local government services, including street sweepers and waste collection vehicles; law enforcement officers; personnel who manually direct traffic, including crossing guards; users of shared micromobility (including bikesharing and shared scooter systems); and other road users that may interact with automated vehicles, as determined by the Secretary of Transportation. The term vulnerable road user has the meaning given such term in section 148(a) of title 23, United States Code.