State lawmakers have come up with rules of the road for companies to follow in order for their self-driving commercial vehicles to truck commerce across Louisiana.
The new regulations have already been signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards and take effect Aug. 1, although significant use of the vehicles may be years away.
The legislation received near-unanimous support from lawmakers who want to try to lure companies that build the trucks and to get ready for self-driving vehicles. The National Conference of State Legislatures says 29 states have already enacted laws involving autonomous vehicles. Louisiana's law will allow the vehicles to transport passengers or property if they are able to follow state vehicle and traffic laws and meet federal vehicle safety standards.
The vehicles must also have a minimum of $2 million in insurance coverage.
