From Rep. Megan Jones’ newsletter:
(Last) week the House passed a framework for autonomous vehicles in Iowa.
SF 302 outlines the parameters for the operation of autonomous vehicles including insurance requirements and accident liability. Autonomous vehicles must follow existing traffic laws and will be regulated by the DOT.
Autonomous vehicles are a new and rapidly changing technology that is currently being developed. While images of people being chauffeured around by a vehicle being run by a computer is often what comes to mind, current technology has yet to reach this level of sophistication.
A number of states have taken legislative action to create a framework outlining the definition, operation, and liability of autonomous vehicles.
SF 302 allows for autonomous vehicle to be used and developed in Iowa while the technology and related issues mature.
I suspect this is not the end of the bills we will see on autonomous vehicles, but this is a good bill to keep Iowa at the forefront of new and developing technological changes in the automotive industry.