AV Emergency Response Coordination Act

This bill, known as the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act, aims to establish minimum standards for autonomous vehicle (AV) operators to ensure effective coordination with emergency responders. It mandates that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator require covered entities to submit detailed emergency response guides and concise rescue sheets . These documents are crucial for supporting emergency responder coordination and developing procedures for responding to incidents involving AVs. The required documentation must detail how AV entities inform emergency agencies about vehicle interactions and provide methods for responders to communicate with the entity, including through a dedicated hotline. It also covers procedures for responders to move, disable, or tow AVs, identify their operational status, mitigate hazards, and access occupants. Furthermore, the guides must address issuing geofence notices, communicating with remote human personnel, and preserving data for investigations. Covered entities must distribute these guides and sheets to local first responder agencies and transportation authorities before operating in a region, along with a point of contact. The Administrator will establish a searchable, publicly available online repository for these documents. Within two years, the Administrator must also issue a final rule establishing a minimum standard for how AV entities enable emergency responders to perform these critical activities, consulting with various stakeholders. The bill further mandates that AV operators maintain a 24/7 emergency hotline , ensuring availability at all times and a response within 30 seconds for emergency responders. Additionally, AVs operating without a human driver must comply with geofence notices within two minutes of issuance and adhere to all emergency orders from federal, state, tribal, and local governments. Non-compliance with these provisions can lead to enforcement actions.