Autonomous vehicles: Contra Costa Transportation Authority: pilot project.

Existing law defines an autonomous vehicle as any vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that has been integrated into the vehicle. Existing law authorizes a driver to operate an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes if specified requirements are met. Existing law authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish additional requirements if, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the department determines that they are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads. Existing law, until 180 days after the operative date of regulations promulgated by the Department of Motor Vehicles to allow testing of autonomous vehicles without a driver, authorizes the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to conduct a pilot project for the testing of autonomous vehicles that do not have a driver seated in the driver's seat and are not equipped with a steering wheel, a brake pedal, or an accelerator if the testing is conducted only at specified locations and the autonomous vehicle operates at speeds of less than 35 miles per hour. Existing law requires the authority or a private entity, or a combination of the 2, to provide the department with a detailed description of the testing program, as specified, and allows the department to require data collection for evaluating the safety of the vehicles, as provided. This bill would extend the authorization for the pilot project to 12 months after the operative date of regulations promulgated by the department.