In November 2021, Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina signed House Bill 814 into law authorizing the use of “neighborhood occupantless vehicles.” These vehicles are designed to be operated without a driver and are described as “low-speed” and “fully autonomous.”
While there are certain restrictions, these self-driving vehicles are able to operate on streets and highways throughout the state where the speed limit is 45 mph or less. Proponents of the legislation note that these driverless trucks and cars will be essential to how goods and services are delivered in the future.