1. (a) A manufacturer shall not conduct testing of an autonomous vehicle on public roads in California without having applied to the department for a permit to conduct testing, the department having issued a Drivered Testing Permit, form OL 315 (Rev. 9/2024), which is hereby incorporated by reference, or a Driverless Testing Permit, form OL 315A (Rev. 10/2023), which is hereby incorporated by reference, to conduct testing, and the permit being currently in full force and effect.
2. (b) A manufacturer shall not test autonomous vehicles on public roads unless the manufacturer has tested the autonomous vehicles under controlled conditions that simulate, as closely as practicable, each Operational Design Domain in which the manufacturer intends the vehicles to operate on public roads and the manufacturer has reasonably determined that it is safe to operate the vehicles in each Operational Design Domain.

3. (c) Manufacturers of autonomous heavy-duty commercial motor vehicles are limited to conducting driverless testing and deployment within an operational design domain that allows operation only on specified routes legal for the size, weight and loading of the vehicle or vehicle combination. Operation on local roads with a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less is prohibited unless those roads fall within a direct route between hubs, motor carrier and shipper facilities, distribution centers, fueling or charging stations, maintenance facilities or terminals as defined in California Vehicle Code 34515, or other non-residential facilities, and the roads utilized permit travel by that vehicle weight class. This regulation shall not apply to autonomous heavy-duty commercial motor vehicles used to transport passengers as described in 227.26(a)(6)(B).

   1. (1) Should circumstances arise which conflict with those limitations, the following provisions apply to manufacturers of autonomous heavy duty commercial motor vehicles:

      1. (A) A driver shall assume conventional mode operation of the vehicle and follow direction given by first responders, traffic control personnel and/or devices when conditions on the predesignated routes require a detour or alternate route for commercial motor vehicles.
      2. (B) When a driver is not present with the vehicle, a remote assistant or remote driver shall follow direction given by first responders, traffic control personnel and/or devices when conditions on the predesignated-specified routes require a detour or alternate route for commercial motor vehicles.
      3. (C) When a designated detour or alternate route conflicts with the Vehicle Code or a local ordinance for compliance with maximum height, maximum length, or maximum weight limits, as recognized or limited by the operational design domain, the manufacturer shall ensure the vehicle can be legally parked and an assessment made confirming the legality and physical capability of the commercial motor vehicle to safely travel on the detour or alternate route.
      4. (D) Alternate routing decisions made by a driver, remote assistant, or remote driver shall not be made using only commercially available mapping programs (e.g., Google maps, Apple maps) which do not reflect legal access for the type or configuration of commercial motor vehicle being operated.
      5. (E) An alternate route may be utilized only when there is a necessity to continue the movement of an autonomous heavy-duty commercial vehicle for the purpose of safety and not for the purpose of continuing the movement for a commercial reason.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 1651 and 38750, Vehicle Code. Reference: Section 38750, Vehicle Code.

History

1. New section filed 5-19-2014; operative 9-16-2014 pursuant to Vehicle Code section 38750(f) (Register 2014, No. 21).

2. Renumbering of former section 227.18 to section 227.32 and renumbering of former section 227.24 to section 227.18, including amendment of section heading and section, filed 2-26-2018; operative 4-1-2018 (Register 2018, No. 9).

3. Amendment of subsection (a) and new subsections (c)-(c)(1)(E) filed 4-28-2026; operative 4-28-2026 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2026, No. 18).