Utah could become the first state to fully legalize driverless, autonomous vehicles anywhere on the state’s roads under a bill that cleared its first hurdle Wednesday. And state officials say the good news is those cars will never drive while drunken, distracted or talking on cellphones.
Its sponsor, Rep. Robert Spendlove, R-Sandy, said it could attract more of the emerging autonomous vehicle industry to the state. “There is a great opportunity because of Utah’s tech center … to really take a lead in this area.”
He said Arizona currently allows autonomous vehicles by executive order from its governor, and Michigan encourages testing of them.