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Controlling Board backs federal grants for DriveOhio automated-vehicle safety and remote-operation studies
Summary
The Controlling Board approved two federally funded ODOT/DriveOhio research projects studying automated-vehicle safety standards and remote operation/assistance, including freight-focused truck-platooning and interoperability issues for law enforcement. DriveOhio said most activity is data collection or freight automation, not full Level‑4 driverless operation on public roads.
The State Controlling Board approved two federally funded research projects led by DriveOhio and the Ohio Department of Transportation to study automated-vehicle safety and remote operation.
Greg Bergametti of ODOT and Nick Hagemeyer of DriveOhio told the board the projects — funded in partnership with eight other states — will identify and document existing standards and best practices, evaluate what it means for an automated vehicle to be “acceptably safe” on public roadways, examine safety and liability considerations, and assess law‑enforcement access to remote‑operation data.
Hagemeyer described two project strands: one focused on safety standards and best practices and a second on remote operation/remote assistance for situations where an automated vehicle cannot progress. The remote work seeks to understand how a remote operator might view sensor feeds, advise pathing, and how jurisdictions handle evidentiary and warrant issues when remote operation crosses state lines.
Representative Sweeney asked whether the research will include fully driverless cars on public roads. DriveOhio staff said current Ohio activity centers on freight automation (I‑70 truck automation corridor and truck platooning) and data collection by Level‑4 providers; most Level‑4 vehicles operating in Ohio at present are in mapping or data‑collection mode rather than full commercial Level‑4 service.
The board approved the items without objection.
