As the technology underlying autonomous vehicles (AVs) continues to evolve, so too does the legal and regulatory landscape governing the testing and deployment of AVs within the United States (US). With a blend of federal guidelines, emerging state frameworks, and local approaches, the US legal and regulatory picture governing AVs remains complicated for original equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and other stakeholders supporting the AV ecosystem.
In 2023, federal, state, and local authorities continued to play distinct yet overlapping roles, crafting a multi-layered array of guardrails that reflect the nation’s cautious optimism toward this groundbreaking technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continued to take the lead at the federal level with limited activity by Congress. States continued to serve as testing grounds for AV development and deployment. And cities and municipalities began to assert their voices, interweaving the conversation around AV regulation with broader public policy discussions concerning public safety.
The Dentons 2024 US Autonomous Vehicles Guide provides an exhaustive overview of these developments, highlighting the key AV policy, regulatory and legal developments at the federal, state, and local level.
