Legal definition
In the district of Columbia (DC) code, ďAutonomous vehicleĒ means a
vehicle capable of navigating District roadways and interpreting
traffic-control devices without a driver actively operating any of the
vehicleís control systems. The term ďautonomous vehicleĒ excludes a
motor vehicle enabled with active safety systems or driver- assistance
systems, including systems to provide electronic blind-spot assistance,
crash avoidance, emergency braking, parking assistance, adaptive cruise
control, lane-keep assistance, lane-departure warning, or traffic-jam
and queuing assistance, unless the system alone or in combination with
other systems enables the vehicle on which the technology is installed
to drive without active control or monitoring by a human operator.
In the same district code, it is considered that:
An autonomous vehicle may operate on a public roadway; provided,
that the vehicle:
(1) Has a manual override feature that allows a driver to assume
control of the autonomous vehicle at any time;
(2) Has a driver seated in the control seat of the vehicle while
in operation who is prepared to take control of the autonomous vehicle
at any moment; and
(3) Is capable of operating in compliance with the Districtís
applicable traffic laws and motor vehicle laws and traffic control
devices.