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Bill

S 4702

Establishes autonomous vehicle pilot program.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Zwicker

New Jersey pilot program permits autonomous vehicle testing on public roads under regulated conditions to evaluate safety, operations, and feasibility before broader deployment.

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
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Bill Summary · S 4702

Legislative bill overview

S 4702 establishes a pilot program in New Jersey to test and evaluate autonomous vehicles (AVs) on public roads under controlled conditions. The bill creates a regulatory framework allowing selected companies to operate self-driving vehicles while collecting safety and operational data to inform future full-scale deployment policies.

Why is this important

Autonomous vehicle technology represents a significant shift in transportation that could improve road safety, reduce congestion, and create new economic opportunities—but also poses regulatory, liability, and labor challenges. New Jersey's pilot program would generate real-world evidence about AV performance in densely populated urban and suburban environments, potentially influencing how other states approach AV regulation and deployment.

Potential points of contention

  • Liability and insurance frameworks – Unclear who bears responsibility if an autonomous vehicle causes injury or property damage during the pilot, which could create legal uncertainty for insurers and manufacturers
  • Labor displacement concerns – Autonomous vehicles may threaten jobs for professional drivers (taxi, truck, delivery), raising questions about worker protections and transition support
  • Public safety and testing parameters – Disagreement over what constitutes sufficient safety testing before public road operation, geographic limitations, weather conditions, and passenger insurance requirements
  • Data privacy and collection – Questions about what vehicle and route data gets collected, who owns it, and how it's protected from misuse or commercial exploitation

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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