FILE 0 A Waymo self-driving vehicle sits curbside, Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at the Sky Harbor International Airport Sky Train facility in Phoenix. AP Photo/Matt York, File)

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has adopted new guidelines for the operation of highly automated vehicles (HAVs) on Pennsylvania roadways for the purposes of operations and testing, according to a news release.

The new guidelines update Publication 950 to allow certified users to operate autonomous vehicles on the road without a safety driver in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Additionally, new language sets conditions for operations from a remote location. The new guidelines mark the first opportunity for certified driverless operations on roadways in Pennsylvania, according to PennDOT.

“As technology like driverless vehicles advances, Pennsylvania is staying at the forefront of ensuring public safety with a regulation and certification process for those interested in operating in the state,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “We are excited to continue our role as a crucial location for driverless training and operations.”

The guidelines were created in consultation with the AV industry and the Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Committee and improved based on feedback from a public comment period, the news release added.

The HAV Advisory Committee was created in 2018 to advise and consult the Secretary of Transportation on aspects of highly automated vehicles by developing technical guidance, evaluating best practices, reviewing regulations, and engaging in continuing research. The HAV Advisory Committee is comprised of department representatives, state and local elected officials and industry and non-profit experts, according to PennDOT.

Act 130 of 2022 advanced Pennsylvania’s position as a national leader in highly automated vehicle (HAV) research and development by providing for the regulation and operation of HAVs. The Act took effect in July 2023, designating PennDOT as the sole regulatory authority and directed the department to develop these guidelines for HAVs in the Commonwealth, stated PennDOT.