HARRISBURGH (TNS) — The state Senate Transportation Committee has moved a bill to the full Senate that would allow companies developing self-driving vehicles to test them on state roads without emergency drivers.
The bill, introduced by committee Chairman Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Johnstown, is designed to allow technology developers in the Pittsburgh area to continue testing self-driving vehicles in this area. A total of 39 states already allow some sort of testing and there is concern that future manufacturing of components for the vehicles could move out of the region if more testing isn’t allowed in Pennsylvania.
A study last year for the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and the Regional Industrial Development released last fall estimated that spinoff manufacturing and other elements for self-driving vehicles could become a $1 trillion industry across the globe by 2015-26. Companies such as Argo AI, Locomation and Aurora Innovation have invested billions in the Pittsburgh area to develop self-driving technology.
The bill was recommended for approval with one amendment to clarify the state Department of Transportation’s role in regulating testing and adding a minimum $1 million liability insurance requirement for development companies in case of accidents.
The bill had bipartisan support, with the only no votes coming from Sens. Tim Kearney, D-Chester, and Lindsey Williams, D-West View, who wanted more input before the vote. Minority Chairman Marty Flynn, D-Scranton, and other Democrats said they support the technology for self-driving vehicles but they also want to hear from labor and municipal leaders who may have concerns about specific aspects of the bill as it moves into full Senate consideration.
Langerholc, who introduced the bill at a news conference at Hazelwood Green last month with state Transportation Yassmin Gramian, said he welcome input from all parties about the bill, but he stressed he will continue pushing it forward.
”We cannot become complacent,” he said. “We will not be left behind in our indecision. We will continue to get the best product we can before the General Assembly.”
{p class=”krtText”}A vehicle safety expert from Carnegie Mellon University has said the bill doesn’t provide enough protection for other motorists and new Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration isn’t happy the bill would strip away any local rules about the operation of self-driving vehicles and place all regulatory power at the state level.
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