Department of Transportation: motor vehicle technology testing.

Existing law establishes rules of the road for the operation of a vehicle on state highways and roads. Existing law requires motor vehicles being driven outside of a business or residence district in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not towing other vehicles, to be operated so as to allow sufficient space and in no event less than 100 feet between each vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to overtake or pass. Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, to conduct testing of technologies that enable drivers to safely operate motor vehicles with less than 100 feet between each vehicle or combination of vehicles, exempts motor vehicles participating in this testing from the above-described rule, and prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle participating in this testing unless the person holds a valid driver's license of the appropriate class for the participating vehicle. Existing law requires the department to report its findings from the testing to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2017, and to submit an updated report to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2019. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2020. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2024, and would require the department to submit an additional updated report to the Legislature on or before April 1, 2023, that also includes any recommendations for subsequent actions that should be taken with regard to the technologies tested pursuant to the above-described provisions.