Vehicles: autonomous vehicle incident reporting.

Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle operated if specified requirements are satisfied. Existing law prohibits the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads until the manufacturer, as defined, submits an application to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) , as specified, and that application is approved. Existing law requires the department to adopt various specified regulations relating to autonomous vehicles, including, among others, testing, equipment, and performance standards that the department concludes are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicle on public roads. Commencing July 31, 2025, this bill would require a manufacturer of autonomous vehicles to report to the DMV a vehicle collision or disengagement, as defined, that occurs when a manufacturer's vehicle is operating in autonomous mode on California public roads regardless of whether the vehicle is in the testing or deployment phase. The bill would require these reports to contain specified information and to be submitted, at minimum, on an annual basis, as specified. The bill would require these reports to be submitted on timelines adopted by the DMV that do not exceed reporting deadlines required by the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The bill would additionally, commencing July 31, 2025, require a manufacturer to submit quarterly reports to the department that summarize the vehicle miles traveled, vehicle immobilizations, and certain traffic violations, as specified. The bill would, commencing July 1, 2025, require the DMV to maintain all reports submitted pursuant to the above-described provisions and make the reports available to local and state transportation authorities upon request. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2028, require the department to publish reports in an electronic, open, and machine-readable format on the department's internet website within 90 days of receipt, but would require the department to redact the personal information of any passengers, drivers, or other road users, and any information that divulges trade secrets identified by the autonomous vehicle manufacturer prior to releasing these reports. The bill would authorize the department to establish additional reporting requirements for purposes of these provisions by regulation. The bill would also authorize the department to establish and assess fees to recover costs reasonably incurred by the department for implementing these provisions by regulation. This bill would incorporate additional conforming changes and references to Section 38752 of the Vehicle Code as proposed to be added by AB 1777, to be operative only if this bill and AB 1777 are both enacted.