Georgia was among the first states in the country to formally allow self-driving cars when it passed SB 219 in the 2017-2018 session. The law made autonomous vehicles street-legal in the state, so long as they were covered with proper insurance and registration. In 2018, self-driving trucks made their first appearance in Atlanta.
The self-driving truck law was a compromise. The original version would have solely allowed automakers the right to experiment with the new technology on Georgia roads. The measure that ultimately passed allowed tech and ridesharing firms like Waymo (a Google subsidiary), Lyft, and Uber to participate, too.
At the time, just 50 self-driving cars were being tested in three U.S. cities. Now, according to TechCrunch, there are more than 1,400 self-driving passenger cars, trucks, and other vehicles currently being tested by more than 80 companies in 36 states.
Supporters of the technology praise its potential for a drastic reduction in the 40,000 fatal car accidents in the U.S. annually. Some argue it would do wonders to ease congestion – an ever-present headache in Atlanta.
Serious questions have arisen about whether this technology is truly safe.
As reported by The Atlanta Journal Constitution, the first fatal self-driving vehicle crash reportedly occurred with a Tesla and a tractor-trailer in Florida in 2016. The autopilot feature was engaged, allowing the car’s smart system to control the vehicle’s direction and speed. Neither the driver (a U.S. Navy SEAL) nor the vehicle’s auto-sensors detected the white semi-truck approaching against a brightly lit sky. As one can see, there is still a wide degree of uncertainty surrounding the safety of this technology.