State officials announced the details Wednesday.
Audi of America was the first company to gain approval for tests and demonstrations of autonomous vehicles under a process the state created earlier this year.
The technology Audi plans to demonstrate June 13 is capable of safely allowing hands-free driving at posted highway speeds, but it requires a driver to take over if problems arise. Two trained engineers will be in the vehicle to monitor the system and ensure safety. The vehicle has already logged thousands of miles on highways across the United States safely.
Among the requirements of the demonstration program:
Test vehicles must comply with federal safety standards and state inspection standards.
A person with a valid driver’s license must be in the driver’s seat when the vehicle is moving on public highways.
A $5 million insurance policy must be in place on the test vehicle.
The companies must submit a report to the Department of Motor Vehicles on demonstrations and tests they have undertaken with their permits.
The law permitting demonstrations and tests expires on April 1, 2018.
“Autonomous vehicles are a major part of the future of the automotive industry, and this pilot program will help ensure New York continues to be a hub of innovation and cutting-edge technology,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a prepared statement. “This emerging technology has the potential to decrease accidents and save lives on our roadways, and with this approval, we are one step closer to a safer and stronger New York for all.”
©2017 The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, N.Y. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
