Bill Text: CA SB431 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Vehicles: driver-assistive truck platooning.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Assembly without further action. [SB431 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB431-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 431	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 6, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Beall

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2015

   An act to amend  Section 21705 of, and to add Article 18
(commencing with Section 28200) to Chapter 5 of Division 12 of,
  Sections 21703 and 21705 of  the Vehicle Code,
relating to vehicles, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take
effect immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 431, as amended, Beall. Vehicles: driver-assistive truck
platooning. 
   Existing law prohibits a driver of a motor vehicle from following
another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having
due regard for the speed of the vehicle and the traffic upon, and the
condition of, the roadway.  
   This bill would require a determination of a reasonable and
prudent distance between 2 vehicles, for those purposes, to take into
account presence of vehicle automation technology, as described.

   Existing law requires motor vehicles being driven in a caravan or
motorcade outside of a business or residence district to be operated
so as to allow sufficient space, and in no event less than 100 feet,
between each vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any
other vehicle to overtake or pass.
   This bill would provide that the above provision does not apply to
a vehicle equipped with a driver-assistive truck platooning system,
as defined, that is being driven upon a highway with 2 or more lanes
of traffic in the direction of travel. 
   Existing law prohibits the operation of any vehicle or combination
of vehicles that is not equipped as provided. Existing law also
prohibits vehicles from being equipped with certain equipment,
including, among others, jamming devices.  
   This bill would authorize the Department of Transportation to
conduct a demonstration project to test the use of driver-assistive
truck platooning systems with 2 vehicles in the platoon. The bill
would require the Department of Transportation, if it authorizes a
demonstration project pursuant to that provision, to coordinate with
the Department of the California Highway Patrol to determine which
types of vehicles and which streets and highways should be included
in the demonstration project, provided that only streets and highways
where driver-assistive truck platooning systems are likely to be
frequently utilized shall be included in the demonstration project.

   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute.
   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  yes
  no  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 21703 of the   Vehicle
Code   is amended to read: 
   21703.   (a)    The driver of a motor vehicle
shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and
prudent, having due regard for the speed of  such 
 the  vehicle and the traffic upon, and the condition of,
the roadway. 
   (b) A determination of a reasonable and prudent distance between
two vehicles for purposes of subdivision (a) shall take into account
the presence of vehicle automation technology, including, but not
limited to, a driver-assistive truck platooning system.  
   (c) For the purposes of this section, "driver-assistive truck
platooning system" means vehicle automation technology that
integrates sensor array, wireless communications, vehicle controls,
and specialized software to synchronize acceleration and braking
between two vehicles, while leaving each vehicle's steering control
and systems command in the control of its driver. 
   SECTION 1.   SEC. 2.   Section 21705 of
the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   21705.  (a) Motor vehicles being driven outside of a business or
residence district in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not towing
other vehicles, shall be operated so as to allow sufficient space,
and in no event less than 100 feet, between each vehicle or
combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to overtake
or pass.
   (b) (1) This section does not apply to a vehicle equipped with a
driver-assistive truck platooning system that is being driven upon a
highway with two or more lanes for traffic in the direction of
travel.
   (2) For the purposes of this subdivision, "driver-assistive truck
platooning system" means vehicle automation technology that
integrates sensor array, wireless communications, vehicle controls,
and specialized software to synchronize acceleration and braking
between two vehicles, while leaving each vehicle's steering control
and systems command in the control of its driver. 
  SEC. 2.    Article 18 (commencing with Section
28200) is added to Chapter 5 of Division 12 of the Vehicle Code, to
read:

      Article 18.  Driver-Assistive Truck Platooning


   28200.  (a) The Department of Transportation may conduct a
demonstration project to test the use of driver-assistive truck
platooning systems with two vehicles in the platoon. If the
Department of Transportation authorizes a demonstration project
pursuant to this section, it shall coordinate with the Department of
the California Highway Patrol to determine which types of vehicles
and which streets and highways should be included in the
demonstration project. Only streets and highways where
driver-assistive truck platooning systems are likely to be frequently
utilized shall be included in the demonstration project.
   (b) For the purposes of this article, "driver-assistive truck
platooning systems" has the same meaning as in Section 21705.

  SEC. 3.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to take advantage of federal funds that are currently
available to states for the purpose of testing automated vehicle
technologies on roads and highways, it is necessary that this act
take effect immediately.