There was once a time when the idea of driverless cars was a far-off notion. Now, that idea is a reality. As of July 2019, Florida law allows fully driverless vehicles to operate on our 
roadways. While this may seem like a great idea considering the number of aggressive and distracted drivers on the streets today, there are still many questions that must be answered about allowing autonomous cars to take over as a completely viable option for transportation. Here are some things that you should know about the new Florida law that allows fully autonomous vehicles, and how you can stay safe on the roads.
New Florida Law Allows Fully Autonomous Vehicles
The bill signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis earlier this year took effect on July 1st. It allows self-driving cars without human operators on all roads as long as the vehicles meet insurance and safety requirements. In addition, the law exempts operators in these cars from laws that prohibit texting or other distractions. Though these vehicles are allowed on the roads, this does not mean that you will see autonomous cars everywhere right away. There is still testing that needs to be done before these types of vehicles will be fully integrated into our daily lives, but the law will make it easier for autonomous vehicle companies to open operations in Florida and push the initiative further.
According to the National Congress of State Legislatures, as of March 2019, 29 states have passed laws that allow some form of autonomous vehicles, whether that is for testing alone, or more progressive laws such as the one passed in Florida, which allows these types of vehicles on roadways. Texas and Michigan are two other states that are following Florida in allowing fully driverless cars on their roads.
In Florida, the new law regarding driverless cars only pertains to cars “equipped with an automated driving system designed to function without a human operator.” Currently, these types of cars only exist in testing programs, such as the SunTrax high-speed autonomous-vehicle testing facility, which is under construction in central Florida.
Insurance and Safety Requirements for Autonomous Vehicles
Florida’s law allows autonomous cars that meet certain insurance and safety requirements such as owners of those autonomous cars must have a minimum of $1 million in insurance coverage, regardless of if that vehicle is for personal or professional use. Additionally, owners must report accidents immediately to law enforcement, or the cars must have a mechanism in place to report crashes right away.
Some insurance agencies may be granting drivers of autonomous vehicles a break on their premiums when they engage the driverless function in their car. It’s true that by allowing more autonomous vehicles on the roadways, with or without drivers, we may be seeing fewer accidents in our future as cars begin using their own technology to avoid crashes, which may, in turn, cause insurance companies to adjust how car insurance coverage is calculated.
Autonomous Car Safety
Though there may be many safety benefits of having more autonomous cars on the road, such as fewer distracted drivers behind the wheel, there are still some risks involved, and the laws surrounding regulation and enforcement are still being tested and improved, as the cars are also being tested and manufactured.
As of right now, Florida does not require a special permit to operate a driverless vehicle, and with the new law passed, we may begin to see more of these vehicles on the road in the future. Drivers in Florida need to be aware of autonomous cars around them, as it’s still your responsibility as a driver to avoid accidents. It’s important to note that cars such as Tesla vehicles are not fully autonomous and still require an alert operator to be present inside the vehicle.
If you are involved in an auto accident with an autonomous vehicle, with or without a safety driver, and suffer injuries as a result of that accident, it’s a good idea to contact an experienced personal injury attorney who understands the current law as it relates to autonomous vehicles and liability. You can contact our offices at Panter, Panter, and Sampedro for a free one-time consultation. 305-662-6178
References:
Panterlaw. (2018, July 04). Self-Driving Cars and the Future of Auto Insurance and Liability. Retrieved from https://panterlaw.com/2017/04/17/self-driving-cars-future-auto-insurance-liability/
Associated Press. (n.d.). New Florida law lets autonomous vehicles drive without humans. Retrieved from https://tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/06/13/new-florida-law-lets-autonomous-vehicles-drive-without-humans/
Florida Hopes to Lure Autonomous Car Companies Under New Law. (2019, June 17). Retrieved from https://insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2019/06/17/529535.htm
Person. (2019, June 18). Florida Will Allow Autonomous Cars with No Safety Drivers on Public Roads Starting July 1. Retrieved from https://caranddriver.com/news/a28073922/florida-autonomous-cars-driverless/
