Melanie Curry wrote:

Automated vehicle (AV) hype has soared in recent years. While overblown promises never materialized, investment has continued and progress has been made in bringing them closer to market. Over fifty companies now have permits to test fully automated vehicles in California. A handful of AV-taxi companies even hold permits to test without a safety driver in the vehicle, but the bulk are still in earlier stages of testing. One company, Nuro, has been granted permission to deploy small robots for deliveries.

Meanwhile, California policymakers have been proposing bills and regulations for this new area of the law. There is widespread agreement that AVs have promise, but they will require oversight that doesn’t yet exist. The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) recently shared a draft Strategic Framework for AVs, which we applaud. However, the pace of technological change demands stronger policy action, and soon. The delay in AV deployment provides an opportunity to formulate more thoughtful policies that will heighten societal benefits and reduce adverse risks.

Our team, at UC Davis and UC Berkeley, has developed a menu of options that lawmakers can refine to set the state on a path toward AV safety, social equity, mobility, and sustainability. Below is a list of the top ten strategies to consider when developing AV policy in California (see the full report for more detail).