Sec. 665b.

(1) A motor vehicle manufacturer may participate in a SAVE project if it self-certifies to all of the following:

(a) That it is a motor vehicle manufacturer. A person that is not a motor vehicle manufacturer may not participate in a SAVE project.

(b) That each vehicle in the participating fleet is owned or controlled by the motor vehicle manufacturer and is equipped with all of the following:

(i) An automated driving system.

(ii) Automatic crash notification technology.

(iii) A data recording system that has the capacity to record the automated driving system's status and other vehicle attributes including, but not limited to, speed, direction, and location during a specified time period before a crash as determined by the motor vehicle manufacturer.

(c) That the participating fleet complies with all applicable state and federal laws.

(d) That each vehicle in the participating fleet is capable of being operated in compliance with applicable traffic and motor vehicle laws of this state.

(2) A motor vehicle manufacturer's eligibility to participate in a SAVE project under this section is conditioned solely upon meeting the requirements of this section. A motor vehicle manufacturer shall verify its satisfaction of the requirements of this section using the self-certification described in subsection (1).

(3) All of the following apply to a motor vehicle manufacturer that participates in a SAVE project:

(a) The motor vehicle manufacturer may commence a SAVE project at any time after it notifies the department that it has self-certified as provided in subsection (1). The notification required by this subdivision shall also set forth the geographical boundaries for the SAVE project. A motor vehicle manufacturer may make multiple notifications under this subsection.

(b) The motor vehicle manufacturer may participate in a SAVE project under any terms it deems appropriate so long as the terms are consistent with this section and other applicable law.

(c) The motor vehicle manufacturer shall determine the geographical boundaries for a SAVE project, which may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:

(i) A designated area within a municipality.

(ii) An area maintained by a regional authority.

(iii) A university campus.

(iv) A development that caters to senior citizens.

(v) A geographic or demographic area that is similar to the areas described in subparagraphs (i) to (iv).

(d) Public operation of a participating fleet shall be confined to the boundaries selected by the motor vehicle manufacturer under subdivision (c).

(e) For the duration of a SAVE project, the motor vehicle manufacturer shall maintain incident records and provide periodic summaries related to the safety and efficacy of travel of the participating fleet to the department and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

(f) An individual who participates in a SAVE project is deemed by his or her participation to have consented to the collection of the information described in subdivision (e) while he or she is in a vehicle that is part of the participating fleet and to the provision of the summaries to the department and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as described in subdivision (e). Before commencing a SAVE project, and for the duration of the SAVE project, the motor vehicle manufacturer shall make publicly available a privacy statement disclosing its data handling practices in connection with the applicable participating fleet.

(4) When engaged, an automated driving system or any remote or expert-controlled assist activity shall be considered the driver or operator of the vehicle for purposes of determining conformance to any applicable traffic or motor vehicle laws and shall be deemed to satisfy electronically all physical acts required by a driver or operator of the vehicle. A motor vehicle manufacturer shall insure each vehicle in a participating fleet as required under this act and chapter 31 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101 to 500.3179. For each SAVE project in which it participates, during the time that an automated driving system is in control of a vehicle in the participating fleet, a motor vehicle manufacturer shall assume liability for each incident in which the automated driving system is at fault, subject to chapter 31 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101 to 500.3179.

History: Add. 2016, Act 333, Imd. Eff. Dec. 9, 2016