NAC482A.130. Physical presence and duties of persons in vehicle during testing; testing limited to authorized geographic locations; report to Department regarding accidents or citations.

     1. Unless otherwise approved in advance by the Department, a licensee shall ensure that at least two persons are physically present in an autonomous vehicle at all times that the autonomous vehicle is being tested on a highway in this State, one of whom is the operator and must at all times be seated in a position which allows the person to take complete control of the vehicle, including, without limitation, control of the steering, throttle and brakes.

     2. The two persons who are required to be physically present in an autonomous vehicle while it is tested on a highway in this State:

     (a) Must each hold a valid driver’s license that has been issued in the state in which the person resides, but are not required to have a driver’s license endorsement to operate the autonomous vehicle as provided in NAC 482A.040;

     (b) Must be trained in the operation of the autonomous vehicle and have received instruction concerning the capabilities and limitations of the autonomous vehicle; and

     (c) Shall each actively monitor for any aberration in the functioning of the autonomous vehicle while it is engaged.

     3. An autonomous vehicle may only be tested on a highway in this State which is located in a geographic location that the Department has approved for such use for vehicles tested by the licensee and indicated on the certificate issued to the licensee pursuant to NAC 482A.120.

     4. A licensee shall submit a report to the Department within 10 business days after an autonomous vehicle of the licensee that is tested in this State is involved in an accident during the course of testing or after an operator of such autonomous vehicle is issued a citation for any violation of the traffic laws or other laws applicable to drivers and motor vehicles operated in this State during the course of testing. The report must include a copy of any accident report prepared regarding an accident and any citation issued to the operator or licensee and such additional information as may be required by the Department.

     (Added to NAC by Dep’t of Motor Veh. by R084-11, 2-15-2012, eff. 3-1-2012)