Motor vehicles equipped with autonomous technology — Political subdivision regulation

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-203, under Operation of Vehicles — Rules of the Road — Continued.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-203

(a) As used in this section:(1) “Autonomous technology” means technology installed on a motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle on which the technology is installed in high or full automation mode, without any supervision by a human operator, with specific driving mode performance by the automated driving system of all aspects of the dynamic driving task that can be managed by a human driver, including the ability to automatically bring the motor vehicle into a minimal risk condition in the event of a critical vehicle or system failure or other emergency event;(2) “Driving mode” means a type of driving scenario with characteristic dynamic driving task requirements including, but not limited to, the following:(A) Expressway merging;(B) High speed cruising;(C) Low speed traffic jam; and(D) Closed-campus operations;(3) “Dynamic driving task” means the operational and tactical aspects of the driving task, but does not include the strategic aspect of the driving task;(4) “Operational” means steering, braking, accelerating, and monitoring the vehicle and roadway;(5) “Political subdivision” means a county, municipality, metropolitan government, or incorporated city or town in this state;(6) “Strategic” means determining destinations and waypoints; and(7) “Tactical” includes, but is not limited to, the following:(A) Responding to events; and(B) Determining when to change lanes, turn, or use signals.

(1) “Autonomous technology” means technology installed on a motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle on which the technology is installed in high or full automation mode, without any supervision by a human operator, with specific driving mode performance by the automated driving system of all aspects of the dynamic driving task that can be managed by a human driver, including the ability to automatically bring the motor vehicle into a minimal risk condition in the event of a critical vehicle or system failure or other emergency event;

(2) “Driving mode” means a type of driving scenario with characteristic dynamic driving task requirements including, but not limited to, the following:(A) Expressway merging;(B) High speed cruising;(C) Low speed traffic jam; and(D) Closed-campus operations;

(A) Expressway merging;

(B) High speed cruising;

(C) Low speed traffic jam; and

(D) Closed-campus operations;

(3) “Dynamic driving task” means the operational and tactical aspects of the driving task, but does not include the strategic aspect of the driving task;

(4) “Operational” means steering, braking, accelerating, and monitoring the vehicle and roadway;

(5) “Political subdivision” means a county, municipality, metropolitan government, or incorporated city or town in this state;

(6) “Strategic” means determining destinations and waypoints; and

(7) “Tactical” includes, but is not limited to, the following:(A) Responding to events; and(B) Determining when to change lanes, turn, or use signals.

(A) Responding to events; and

(B) Determining when to change lanes, turn, or use signals.

(b) A political subdivision shall not, by ordinance, resolution, or any other means, prohibit within the jurisdictional boundaries of the political subdivision a motor vehicle equipped with autonomous technology if the motor vehicle: (1) Otherwise complies with all safety regulations of the political subdivision; or(2) Is operating in connection with a transit project subject to the Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Act, compiled in title 65, chapter 13.

(1) Otherwise complies with all safety regulations of the political subdivision; or

(2) Is operating in connection with a transit project subject to the Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Act, compiled in title 65, chapter 13.