The regulatory framework governing the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the United States

This paper examines the current state of autonomous vehicle (AV) (a self-driving vehicle equipped with advanced artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, and algorithms that enable it to perceive its environment and navigate without human intervention) legislation in the United States, highlighting the lack of federal statutes and the resulting patchwork of state-level regulations. States fall into three main categories: those permitting AV piloting (refers to the process of actively operating or monitoring an autonomous vehicle during controlled conditions, either by a human safety driver or an AI system, to evaluate real-world performance) and testing (involves structured experimental procedures conducted to assess the vehicle’s safety, reliability, and compliance with regulatory standards), those conditionally allowing AVs once specific standards are met, and those without AV-specific statutes, relying instead on existing federal and state regulations. The paper also explores safety, commercial applications, and the emerging role of federal guidance, including the U.S. Department of Transportation's efforts to address AI in AVs and future zero-emission strategies. With 34 states adopting some form of AV statute, the paper provides a comprehensive survey of state laws, regulatory trends, and the challenges posed by inconsistent frameworks, offering insights into the future trajectory of AV policy in the United States.