2021 Tennessee Code
Title 55 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 8 - Operation of Vehicles — Rules of the Road
Part 2 - Operation of Vehicles — Rules of the Road — Continued
§ 55-8-202. Motor Vehicles Equipped With Autonomous Technology

Universal Citation: TN Code § 55-8-202 (2021)
  1. No political subdivision may by ordinance, resolution, or any other means prohibit within the jurisdictional boundaries of the political subdivision the use of a motor vehicle equipped with autonomous technology if the motor vehicle otherwise complies with all safety regulations of the political subdivision.


    1. “Autonomous technology” means technology installed on a motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle on which the technology is installed in high or full automation mode, without any supervision by a human operator, with specific driving mode performance by the automated driving system of all aspects of the dynamic driving task that can be managed by a human driver, including the ability to automatically bring the motor vehicle into a minimal risk condition in the event of a critical vehicle or system failure or other emergency event;

    2. “Driving mode” means a type of driving scenario with characteristic dynamic driving task requirements including, but not limited to, the following:

      1. Expressway merging;

      2. High speed cruising;

      3. Low speed traffic jam; and

      4. Closed-campus operations;

    3. “Dynamic driving task” means the operational and tactical aspects of the driving task, but does not include the strategic aspect of the driving task;

    4. “Operational” means steering, braking, accelerating, and monitoring the vehicle and roadway;

    5. “Strategic” means determining destinations and waypoints; and

    6. “Tactical” includes, but is not limited to, the following:

      1. Responding to events; and

      2. Determining when to change lanes, turn, or use signals.
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