Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes regulations allowing semi-autonomous personal delivery devices to make deliveries on roads and sidewalks.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a local authority to opt-out of having automated delivery devices operate within the local authority if the election to opt-out is made no more than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory act to this bill (Sec. 605).

• Specifies that a person operating an automated delivery device on a sidewalk, crosswalk, or another place open to the general public or accessible to pedestrian traffic has all the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to a pedestrian (Sec. 657).

• Requires a person that operates an automated delivery device to maintain an insurance policy on each device that includes general liability coverage of no less than $100,000 for damages arising from operations of the device (Sec. 657b).

• Requires a person operating an automated delivery device, electric personal assistive mobility device, low-speed vehicle, electric skateboard, or moped on a roadway to operate as near to the right side of the road as possible  (Sec. 660).

• Requires a person operating an automated delivery device, electric personal assistive mobility device, or electric skateboard on a sidewalk to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian and give an audible signal before overtaking and passing the pedestrian (Sec. 660).

• Authorizes an automated delivery device to be operated on a sidewalk or other place accessible to pedestrian traffic at a speed of no more than 10 miles per hour (Sec. 660).

• Requires an automated delivery device to be capable of achieving a minimal risk condition, which may be achieved by one or more of the following (Sec. 660):

• The device’s automated driving system can navigate around obstacles to an unobstructed path; or

• The operator of the device can promptly take remote control of the device.

• Prohibits an automated delivery device from transporting hazardous materials (Sec. 660).

• Requires an automated delivery device to be operated only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. (Sec. 660).

• Requires an automated delivery device to meet all of the following requirements (Sec. 662):

• Be equipped with a lamp that emits a white light visible from 500 feet to the front and a lamp that emits a red light visible from 500 feet to the rear; 

• Be able to come rapidly to a controlled stop; and

• Be labeled in a 3-inch type with the operator’s name, address, telephone number, and a unique number assigned by the operator.

• Authorizes a city that has a population of no less than 500,000 to regulate the zones by which automated delivery devices can operate (Sec. 605).

• Requires the driver of a vehicle to stop and yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is on the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger when traffic is not controlled by traffic signals or traffic signals are not in operation (Sec. 612a).

• Prohibits a pedestrian from suddenly leaving a curb or other place of safety and walking into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to stop and yield to that pedestrian (Sec. 612a).

• Defines “automated delivery device” as a self-propelled device that meets all of the following requirements (Sec. 2c):

• Is used to transport goods or perform services; 

• Does not transport a human operator or passenger; 

• Is not more than 32 inches wide; 

• Weighs less than 1,000 pounds; 

• Has a maximum attainable speed of 25 miles per hour or less; and 

• Uses an automated driving system.

• Specifies that “motor vehicle” does not include an automatic delivery device (Sec. 33).

• Defines “operate” or “operating” as one or more of the following (Sec. 35a):

• Being in actual physical control of a vehicle; or

• Causing an automated motor vehicle or automated delivery device to move under its own power in automatic mode regardless of whether the present is physically present in that automated motor vehicle or with that automated delivery device at the time.

• Specifies that “operate” or “operating” does not include either of the following (Sec. 35a):

• Requesting a delivery or service provided by an automated delivery device; or

• Dispatching an automated delivery device.

• Defines “operator” as a person, other than a chauffeur, who does either of the following (Sec. 36):

• Operates a motor vehicle upon a highway or street; 

• Operates an automated motor vehicle upon a highway or street; or

• Operates an automated delivery device on a sidewalk or other area open to pedestrians.

Full Bill Text