Michigan, whose emerging industries put the world on wheels a century ago, is leading the way in the next evolution of driving: autonomous vehicles.
The Great Lakes State has propelled itself to the forefront nationally with the creation of the first comprehensive statewide self-driving laws in the country. The measures, among other things, allow for the operation of autonomous vehicles on Michigan roads. Previously, self-driving vehicles were permitted on state roads only for testing by manufacturers.
“The bill (Senate Bill 995) got the government out of the way of technology,” said Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation who has been a strong advocate of bolstering the state’s mobility efforts. “Michigan allowed technology to move forward at the pace of development. We are allowing autonomous vehicles to develop as fast as the technology is ready.”
The legislation, which also requires manufacturers to adhere to all safety requirements mandated with autonomous vehicle testing, cemented Michigan’s role as a world leader in automotive design, technology and production.
In a state synonymous with the automotive industry, it was important for Michigan to take the lead in governing autonomous vehicles, Steudle said. Other legislation allows for automated platoons, where vehicles travel together at electronically coordinated speeds and authorizes on-demand autonomous vehicle networks.
Since then, other states have followed Michigan’s lead, adopting similar legislation or borrowing parts of a set of bills approved unanimously by both sides of the political aisle in late 2016. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation relating to autonomous vehicles, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Interest in regulating what many believe is the future of the automotive industry grows each year.
Michigan also is being watched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
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