PennDOT and a Wine Tour AV Shuttle - Drink and Ride

A perfect reason for an AV shuttle: tourist wine tours without driving. Taste more and ditch the designated driver. BUT you will have to go all the way to Australia (unless you are already there). Autovino - no kidding - if approved, will operate in New South Wales, that's NSW for those in the know, "on Hermitage Road, set against the majestic Brokenback Mountain Range." Not to worry if you prefer beer or no alcohol; craft beer, olive groves, and a day spa are in the area. The Around Hermitage Association will be happy to help with accommodations and other plans. The association is also a partner in the Autovino plan.

Could be better than attending an AV conference, given the wine, the gorgeous scenery, and the cute shuttle. No word yet on when Autovine will debut.

Liberal AV policy makes one state nervous

Pittsburgh, located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, has lots of AV activity going on and - until THE fatality - Uber was giving driverless, well partially driverless, it turns out, rides. Someone at PennDOT, the state department of transportation, or someone close to the governor, must have panicked at Arizona's bad fortune to get caught with its pants down, basically not regulating AVs at all.

So Pennsylvania, a state founded by Quakers (just to throw in a bit of Pennsylvania history), rightfully has cold feet, but it does not wish to alienate the tech industry. Instead of passing a law or issuing regulations, which take time and get mired in details and advocacy, Pennsylvania is entering into a gentlemen's agreement of sorts. Basically, the deal for the tech industry is "you cooperate and we won't get too tough."

Kind of like a sweet plea bargain - technically voluntary

The deal is voluntary. Technically.

The plan includes submission of detailed company information, verification that federal and state safety standards are met, certification of driver training, list of vehicles involved, routes for testing and proof of insurance. 

At least six entities are involved with HAVs in this area, including Aptiv, Argo AI, Aurora Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University and Uber, although Uber suspended testing while national highway traffic officials investigate the Arizona tragedy.

Leslie Richards, the PennDOT secretary, said "[w]ithin 60 to 90 days, ... she would convene a meeting with the companies testing autonomous vehicle technology to discuss the interim [request] regulations. In addition, the state will reconvene the Autonomous Vehicle Policy Task Force to review the regulations and update policy recommendations."

Again, these are not regulations at this point, just a request that companies may voluntarily accede to.

Here's a clip from the movie Gentleman's Agreement.