AV Safety Data Act
Senate Bill Would Require Monthly Safety Reports From Self-Driving Car Companies
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill requires companies that make or operate self-driving cars to send monthly reports to the federal government. These reports must include how many miles their vehicles drive, where they are driving, and which software versions they are using.
- Companies would have to report every time a car with self-driving features hits a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or someone in another vehicle. This is intended to help safety officials track whether these new technologies are safe for everyone sharing the road.
- The bill targets 'unplanned stoppages,' which happen when a self-driving car gets stuck in a lane, blocks a bus or light rail, or gets in the way of police and fire trucks. Companies must report exactly where these events happened and how many seconds it took to move the vehicle.
- All the collected data would be posted on a public website for anyone to download and study. This move aims to make car companies more transparent about how their technology performs in the real world rather than keeping that information private.
- For cars that still require a human driver to pay attention, the bill includes privacy protections. The reports sent to the government are not allowed to include any personal information that could identify the person behind the wheel.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Companies that manufacture or operate autonomous vehicles — including smaller AV startups and robotaxi operators — would face new monthly reporting requirements. They'd need to track and submit detailed data on miles driven, collisions involving vulnerable road users, and every unplanned stoppage event, which adds compliance costs and administrative burden, especially for smaller firms with fewer resources.
Disabilities
Broader Impacts
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articlesCongressman wants to know how often driverless cars block police, public transit
Rep. Kevin Mullin introduced the AV Safety Data Act to force driverless car companies to disclose mileage and 'unplanned stoppages' that impede emergency responders. The bill seeks to codify and expand existing NHTSA reporting requirements to ensure public safety and transparency.
Waymo Executive Testifies Remote Staff Provide Guidance Without Directly Controlling Vehicles
During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, lawmakers discussed the AV Safety Data Act, introduced by Senators Markey and Blumenthal. The bill would mandate expanded reporting of vehicle data and incidents, including 'unplanned stoppages' and interactions with remote assistance operators.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
AV Safety Data Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.