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Committee releases committee substitute for autonomous-vehicle pilot after broad testimony
Summary
A committee substitute for S-1677 establishing a three-year fully autonomous vehicle pilot program was substituted and released after extensive testimony from industry, safety advocates, disability-rights groups and trade associations. Witnesses urged amendments on insurance, geographic restrictions and transparency requirements.
The Senate committee substituted and released a committee substitute for S-1677, a proposed three-year fully autonomous vehicle (AV) pilot program, after extended testimony from industry representatives, safety advocates, disability-rights groups and trade associations.
Sponsor remarks described the pilot as a tightly supervised program allowing autonomous vehicles that meet stringent safety standards to operate in New Jersey with Department of Transportation authority to pause operations for weather or other adverse conditions. "This program...will, for the first time, allow autonomous vehicles that meet the most stringent safety standards operate in New Jersey," the sponsor said.
Industry witnesses urged targeted amendments. Matt Walsh, regional head of state and local public policy at Waymo, said Waymo's data suggest substantial safety benefits and reiterated support for the bill "with targeted amendments," citing concerns about insurance minimums and geographic restrictions. "We strongly support the sponsor's intent...However, as currently drafted, the bill contains several critical operational barriers," Walsh said.
Safety advocates and disability-rights witnesses asked the committee to keep robust reporting and oversight provisions in place. Shuah Sanchez, national campaigns director for Safe Autonomous Vehicles Everywhere (Save Us), said the bill's crash reporting and public crash database provisions are important and urged independent validation and representation for vulnerable road users on the pilot task force.
Stakeholders debated a $5,000,000 per-vehicle insurance requirement and restrictions on operation in school zones, construction zones and areas of elevated pedestrian traffic. Several business and regional representatives urged lowering per-vehicle insurance or allowing fleet-level coverage and asked for flexibility so smaller operators could participate.
After hearing testimony and noting outstanding amendment requests, the sponsor told the committee staff would continue to work with stakeholders to refine the substitute. The committee recorded a motion to substitute and release the bill for further consideration.
