This legislation, known as the "Stay in Your Lane Act," aims to enhance the safety of driving automation systems by establishing clear operational boundaries. It requires manufacturers to define an operational design domain (ODD), which specifies the conditions under which their automated driving systems are designed to function safely. These conditions include environmental factors, geographical limitations, and traffic characteristics. Manufacturers are mandated to ensure their driving automation systems strictly adhere to these defined ODDs, preventing operation in conditions for which they were not designed. Furthermore, they must submit their ODD definitions to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and make these declarations publicly accessible on their websites. Violations of these requirements, such as operating outside the defined ODD, will be subject to civil penalties and are explicitly classified as failures to meet a motor vehicle safety standard . The act is set to take effect 180 days after its enactment.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Stay in Your Lane Act
USA119th CongressS-3536| Senate
| Updated: 12/17/2025
This legislation, known as the "Stay in Your Lane Act," aims to enhance the safety of driving automation systems by establishing clear operational boundaries. It requires manufacturers to define an operational design domain (ODD), which specifies the conditions under which their automated driving systems are designed to function safely. These conditions include environmental factors, geographical limitations, and traffic characteristics. Manufacturers are mandated to ensure their driving automation systems strictly adhere to these defined ODDs, preventing operation in conditions for which they were not designed. Furthermore, they must submit their ODD definitions to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and make these declarations publicly accessible on their websites. Violations of these requirements, such as operating outside the defined ODD, will be subject to civil penalties and are explicitly classified as failures to meet a motor vehicle safety standard . The act is set to take effect 180 days after its enactment.