§ 8501 — Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Advisory committee."The Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Committee established in section 8503 (relating to Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Committee).

"Certificate of compliance."A certificate authorizing the operation of a highly automated vehicle in accordance with Subchapter B (relating to highly automated vehicles).

"DDT fallback."A response by a highly automated vehicle driver or ADS to either perform a DDT or achieve a minimal-risk condition after occurrence of a DDT performance-relevant system failure or upon an operational design domain exit.

"Dynamic driving task"or"DDT."Real-time operational and tactical functions required to operate a motor vehicle on a highway, excluding strategic functions such as trip scheduling and selection of destinations and waypoints, and including, without limitation:

(1) Lateral vehicle motion control via steering.

(2) Longitudinal motion control via acceleration and deceleration.

(3) Monitoring the driving environment via object and event detection, recognition, classification and response preparation.

(4) Object and event response execution.

(5) Maneuver planning.

(6) Enhancing conspicuity via lighting, signaling and gesturing.

"Highly automated work zone vehicle."A motor vehicle used in an active work zone as implemented by the department or the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, as applicable, for purposes related to the active work zone that is:

(1) equipped with an automated driving system; or

(2) connected by wireless communication or other technology to another vehicle allowing for coordinated or controlled movement.

"Minimal risk condition."A stable, stopped condition to which an individual, a highly automated vehicle driver or ADS may bring a highly automated vehicle after performing a DDT fallback in order to reduce the risk of a crash when a given trip cannot or should not be continued.

"Operational design domain"or"ODD."Operating conditions under which a given ADS is specifically designed to function, including, but not limited to, environmental, geographical and time-of-day restrictions and the requisite presence or absence of certain traffic or highway characteristics.

"Platoon."A group of buses, military vehicles or motor carrier vehicles traveling in a unified manner at electronically coordinated speeds at following distances that are closer than would be reasonable and prudent without the coordination. The term does not include a school bus or a school vehicle.

Legislative History

(Nov. 3, 2022, P.L.1946, No.130, eff. 240 days) 2022 Amendment.Act 130 added the defs. of "certificate of compliance," "DDT fallback," "dynamic driving task" or "DDT," "highly automated workzone vehicle," "minimal risk condition," "operational design domain" or "ODD" and "platoon."