Oregon would require approval for driverless rides and paid deliveries

People could use self-driving systems on Oregon highways when vehicles meet the stated safety requirements. The system would count as the driver under Oregon vehicle laws. A person could operate without driving privileges when the system is engaged and the vehicle meets the stated safety conditions. If the system cannot keep driving, it must reach a stable stop to reduce crash risk. If it cannot do that and relies on an onboard driver, it must ask that driver to take over. Vehicles must meet state vehicle laws and federal safety standards, except where the authorized agency or federal law grants an exemption. The onboard driver or owner would face traffic penalties while the system drives. Oregon’s Department of Transportation could waive state equipment rules for vehicles driven only by the system without an onboard driver. The $1 million coverage requirement would apply whenever the self-driving system is engaged, alongside the other required vehicle insurance.

Oregon’s Department of Transportation would approve driverless paid services when applicants provide the required vehicle information, safety certification, and emergency-response plan. Approval would be required to carry passengers or goods for payment without a licensed person onboard who can take control. The emergency plan must explain how responders can contact fleet support staff and safely handle the vehicle. Those staff must be available whenever the vehicle operates. Approved app-based services must disclose fares before booking and send ride receipts afterward. They could not offer taxi service or accept rides arranged directly on the street. ORS chapter 825 transport rules would not apply to approved carriers or app-based networks. App-based networks would not count as common carriers, a legal category of transport providers. Approval would not expire unless suspended or revoked. Operators would have to report changes to application information or emergency plans within 30 days.

Local governments and local service districts could not ban self-driving vehicles or impose requirements aimed only at their operation. State law would govern self-driving vehicles and systems, with the stated exceptions. Local limits would cover vehicle-specific taxes, fees, safety standards, and other requirements. Local governments could not regulate app-based self-driving networks or require taxes, fees, licenses, or permits for them. Airports could charge fees consistent with those charged for similar services and assign reasonably equivalent waiting, pickup, and drop-off locations.

Self-driving vehicle operators would have specified crash duties and would send certain federal crash reports to Oregon’s Department of Transportation. The reporting duty would cover crash reports operators must give the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal vehicle safety agency. Operators would have to perform the driver duties in ORS 811.700 when a crash causes property damage. Operators would be exempt from the driver duties in ORS 811.705, 811.710, and 811.715. A separate state copy would not be required if federal law makes the report available to Oregon’s Department of Transportation. Operators would have to send the state copy within 24 hours after sending the required report to the federal agency.

Oregon’s Department of Transportation would give approved driverless paid services time to fix serious safety problems before carrying out a stated suspension, loss of approval, or operating restriction. This process would cover services approved to carry passengers or goods for payment without an onboard driver. The vehicle must be unsafe, and its highway operation must create a substantial risk of death or have caused death, serious permanent disfigurement, or lasting loss or impairment of a body part’s function. Operators would receive a reasonable time to correct problems and certify how they fixed them. The department could grant more time upon written request. Failure to comply would trigger the stated action. The department would have to lift it whenever the operator meets the correction and certification requirements. Operators could request review within 10 days of receiving a decision. The department would have 10 days after receiving that request to decide, with further review available under state administrative law.