The proposed "Autonomous Vehicle Act" establishes comprehensive safety requirements for the operation of autonomous motor vehicles on public highways in New Mexico. It mandates that a human operator must be present behind the wheel until 2036, ensuring they possess a valid driver's license and are capable of controlling the vehicle. The bill prohibits the operation of autonomous vehicles in specific areas, such as school and construction zones, and limits the use of autonomous commercial motor vehicles to testing purposes until further approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is obtained. Additionally, it requires vehicles to be equipped with data recording mechanisms, incident-capturing cameras, and alerts for the human operator in case of system failures.

The bill amends existing laws by requiring owners or operators to notify the Department of Transportation at least five days before testing on public highways, providing detailed information about the vehicle and testing routes. It also introduces a new endorsement for commercial driver's licenses for operating autonomous commercial vehicles and sets higher financial responsibility requirements for accidents involving these vehicles. The Department of Transportation is tasked with creating rules for the endorsement process and ensuring the safety systems of autonomous vehicles remain operational. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 66-1-4.1, 66-1-4.5, 66-1-4.8, 66-7-12, 66-7-13, 66-5-65, 66-5-208