Autonomous trucks could be on Texas highways by 2023.
The US state Texas wants to take a leadership role within the US for the deployment of autonomous driving. Therefore, the state took legal and administrative general conditions.
A few gaps were left in the legal regulation. So could now autonomous trucks be on the highways in Texas as early as 2023 due to the lax regulations. companies like TuSimple or Waymo are active in Texas. The Texas Department of Transportation is taking a collaborative approach with emerging industry. Some companies plan to deploy these robotic trucks in Texas over the next year, with no security personnel on board. This represents a first for the industry.
In addition to the framework, important trade routes also pass through Texas, but the main appeal lies in the opportunity to commercialize the concept. The state prohibits cities from imposing stricter rules on autonomous driving. This is intended to promote undisturbed development.
The legal situation is such that the trucks can be used without registration, data release or additional insurance. Vehicles are allowed to move freely as long as they obey the traffic rules.
But there are also skeptical voices who consider it premature to use autonomous trucks on public roads. They criticize the fact that people’s lives are at stake. The Texas government counters that there was no such case. Nevertheless, most people in the US die in accidents involving trucks in Texas.