Human drivers in Pennsylvania may soon see self-driving cars without anyone inside of them while on public roads following new state legislation signed into law on Thursday.
With the stroke of Gov. Tom Wolf's pen, House Bill 2398 has now become law following months of negotiations and the bulk of it will take effect in July 2023. Late last month, the bi-partisan bill passed the House with a vote of 119-79 in favor after making its way through the Senate with a vote of 29-20 in favor.
The law amends the state's Title 75 Motor Vehicle Code so that it no longer requires a licensed human driver to be inside a highly automated vehicle when that vehicle is undergoing testing on public roadways, a necessary step for the commercialization of this technology. Pennsylvania joins over a dozen states that permit similar testing arrangements for autonomous vehicle (AV) companies that have demonstrated the ability to meet certain advanced safety requirements and protections, one of which is the requirement that AV certificate holders operating in the commonwealth carry a minimum of $1 million in insurance coverage.
"Automated vehicle technology is developing at a rapid pace and Pennsylvania has become a global leader in cultivating this innovative industry," Wolf said in a prepared statement. "This technology brings the potential for significant advancements in vehicle safety and mobility, and offers economic development benefits across Pennsylvania."
It's estimated that Pittsburgh's local employment count for those working in the AV industry reaches about 6,300 jobs. The city serves as the headquarters for two home-grown AV startups, Aurora Innovation Inc. and Locomation Inc.
The law's adoption comes at a pivotal time for AV companies racing to commercially deploy their self-driving technology before the funds backing their capital-intensive research and development run out.
Argo AI, another Pittsburgh-based AV startup, shut down near the end of October after failing to secure additional investors because its primary backers, Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG, announced they would no longer support the firm. Aurora on its earnings call Wednesday said it has enough cash on-hand to keep it running until it deploys its AV tech, now expected by the end of 2024. Meanwhile last month, Locomation announced a series of furloughs affecting many roles beyond those of its engineering team.
"This legislation will help the autonomous vehicle sector bring billions of dollars of economic value to Pennsylvania in the coming years — maintaining our region's leadership, making roads safer and building a more robust supply chain," Matt Blackburn, senior manager of government relations at Aurora, said in a prepared statement after the bill cleared the state house last week.
Added Locomation CEO and Co-Founder Çetin Meriçli: "This bill will keep Pennsylvania at the forefront of a global race to ensure the United States remains the leader in autonomous vehicle technology. We appreciate the hard work of the legislature on this issue and their unwavering commitment to keeping the commonwealth at the forefront of innovation. We are thrilled Pennsylvania has taken this step."
The bill's adoption is the result of work from a coalition of advocates, including Pittsburgh-based AV companies, research firms, universities and PennDOT. Opponents of the bill have expressed concerns over the potential labor implications it carries especially as it relates to claims that there aren't enough protections for unions and workers, like truck drivers, that the implementation of this technology is set to impact the most.
"I encourage the General Assembly to ensure that Pennsylvania workers are supported in the event that highly automated vehicles cause disruption to the current and evolving workforce," Wolf said. "Often new technology brings job replacement, and we must ensure the Pennsylvania workers are protected and allowed the opportunity to participate in this industry as it continues to grow."
