The United States’ most populous city could soon have scores of autonomous vehicles (AVs) jockeying their way through bustling streets but they will have to do so with a human sitting behind the wheel. After years of relatively subdued AV testing, New York City this week announced new safety requirements and permitting guidelines for companies looking to test their self-driving cars on public roads. NYC’s new guidelines signal a push toward more AV testing and, eventually, deployment while simultaneously putting in place various guardrails to try and avoid replicating recent missteps in other cities.
How will AV testing work in the Big Apple?
AV companies approved for testing in New York will need to have a safety driver behind the wheel ready to take over at all times. This approach notably differs from cities like Phoenix, which have already let Alphabet-owned Waymo to test “rider only” trips on city streets. The NYC permit documentation does not mention any specific autonomous vehicle makers by name, but says only companies with past testing in other cities would be considered. Safety drivers will be required to have a driver’s license, complete background checks, prove they have adequate training in the vehicles they are testing, and take frequent breaks to avoid distraction or fatigue.
Companies looking to test in the city will have to comply with all local traffic laws and pay any traffic or parking tickets the vehicle may incur. Permits will last for one year with the option for renewal at the end of the test period. Any company applying for a permit will also need to provide proof of at least $5 million in car insurance for any autonomous vehicles testing on NYC highways, as well as a $3 million in personal liability insurance. New York’s Department of Transportation, in a statement, says it will work with AV applicants to ensure testing “does not unduly impede traffic flow, pedestrian and cyclist movement, transit…
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