SELF DRIVE Act
Latest action (6 Sep 2017): On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
What this bill does
Here is a neutral summary based on the provided text.
H.R. 3388, the SELF DRIVE Act, would amend federal transportation law to establish a framework for regulating self-driving ("highly automated") vehicles. It would clarify that states may not set their own design, construction, or performance standards for these vehicles unless identical to federal ones, while preserving state authority over licensing, insurance, registration, and traffic laws. The bill would require manufacturers to submit safety assessment certifications, direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop a rulemaking and safety priority plan and update existing safety standards, and require automated-driving-system manufacturers to have written cybersecurity plans. It would also expand and phase in higher caps on the number of vehicles manufacturers may sell under safety-standard exemptions for testing, require crash-reporting from exempted vehicles, create a public exemption database, mandate research on informing consumers about automated vehicle capabilities, and establish an advisory council on highly automated vehicles.
The bill primarily affects vehicle manufacturers and technology developers (who would face new certification, cybersecurity, and reporting requirements), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (which gains new rulemaking and oversight duties), state and local governments (whose regulatory authority over vehicle design would be preempted in certain respects), and consumers (who would receive new information about automated vehicle capabilities).
The bill was introduced in July 2017 and passed the House by voice vote on September 6, 2017. It was never taken up or passed by the Senate, so it did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution Act or the SELF DRIVE Act
This bill establishes the federal role in ensuring the safety of highly automated vehicles by encouraging the testing and deployment of such vehicles. A "highly automated vehicle" is a motor vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle, that is equipped with an automated driving system capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis.
The bill preempts states from enacting laws regarding the design, construction, or performance of highly automated vehicles or automated driving systems unless such laws enact standards identical to federal standards.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) must require safety assessment certifications for the development of a highly automated vehicle or an automated driving system.
Manufacturers of highly automated vehicles must develop written cybersecurity and privacy plans for such vehicles prior to offering them for sale.
The bill applies certain safety exemptions and testing standards to highly automated vehicles.
DOT must: (1) inform prospective buyers of highly automated vehicles of the capabilities and limitations of such vehicles; (2) establish the Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Council to, among other things, develop guidance regarding mobility access for the disabled, elderly, and underserved populations; (3) require all new passenger motor vehicles less than 10,000 pounds to be equipped with a rear seat occupant alert system; and (4) research updated safety standards for motor vehicle headlamps.
Timeline
6 Sep 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
27 Jul 2017
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 54 - 0.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 3388 do?
- Here is a neutral summary based on the provided text. H.R. 3388, the SELF DRIVE Act, would amend federal transportation law to establish a framework for regulating self-driving ("highly automated") vehicles. It would clarify that states may not set their own design, construction, or performance standards for these vehicles unless identical to federal ones, while preserving state authority over licensing, insurance, registration, and traffic laws. The bill would require manufacturers to submit safety assessment certifications, direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop a rulemaking and safety priority plan and update existing safety standards, and require automated-driving-system manufacturers to have written cybersecurity plans. It would also expand and phase in higher caps on the number of vehicles manufacturers may sell under safety-standard exemptions for testing, require crash-reporting from exempted vehicles, create a public exemption database, mandate research on informing consumers about automated vehicle capabilities, and establish an advisory council on highly automated vehicles. The bill primarily affects vehicle manufacturers and technology developers (who would face new certification, cybersecurity, and reporting requirements), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (which gains new rulemaking and oversight duties), state and local governments (whose regulatory authority over vehicle design would be preempted in certain respects), and consumers (who would receive new information about automated vehicle capabilities). The bill was introduced in July 2017 and passed the House by voice vote on September 6, 2017. It was never taken up or passed by the Senate, so it did not become law.
- Has H.R. 3388 become law?
- Not yet. As of 6 Sep 2017, H.R. 3388 is passed house (senate next).
- Who sponsored H.R. 3388?
- H.R. 3388 was sponsored by Rep. Robert Latta [R-OH5] (Republican-OH), with 31 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 3388?
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (6 Sep 2017).
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