STATEHOUSE (Jan. 26, 2024) – State Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (R-Newburgh) authored legislation to protect Hoosier motorists by tapping the breaks on Indiana’s transition to automated semi-trucks until federal safety regulations catch up with the technology.Â
In 2021, the American Trucking Association reported the trucking industry was short nearly 80,000 drivers. As a result, autonomous tractor trailers and other automated vehicles have become a more attractive alternative to traditional trucking, however Ledbetter says many Hoosiers have safety concerns.
“I understand the desire for self-driving vehicles and the innovations that could result in the transportation industry from autonomous tractor trailers,” Ledbetter said. “However, there are also dangers and risks. Whether that’s Wi-Fi connectivity issues, sensors becoming blocked or cyber-attacks, many constituents have expressed concerns about sharing the road with these heavy vehicles. We have to pursue this technology cautiously and ensure guardrails are in place to protect all drivers.”
To help, Ledbetter said her bill would require a human driver with a valid commercial driver’s license to be on board of an autonomous tractor-trailer and be able to take control at any time.
“I believe the federal government needs to act on uniform safety regulations for these types of vehicles before their use becomes widespread,” Ledbetter said. “Until then, it’s important that we have an added layer of protection by having human backup on board and ready to act.”
According to an MIT study, humans are still more reliable than fully autonomous vehicles alone. Ledbetter said with the ability to make quick decisions and decipher complex environments, a person can better navigate on and off ramps, and left turns into oncoming traffic with less incidents than an autonomous vehicle without a driver.
In the first month of 2024, Â the national Autonomous Vehicle Collision Report shows 683 incidents reported by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Â
House Bill 1022 is assigned to the House Roads and Transportation Committee for consideration. To learn more and follow legislative proceedings, visit iga.in.gov.
