Automated Vehicles

The deployment of Automated Vehicles (AVs) will likely lead to a once-in-a-century transformation of our transportation system and our communities. California has the opportunity to exercise proactive leadership to steer this transformation towards the public benefit. With a clear policy framework to guide deployment, AVs could create a transportation system that gets people to destinations more quickly and provides more and better travel options, decreases greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions, improves safety of all road users, encourages efficient land use, enhances public health, and improves transportation equity and economic opportunity. However, without attention to the broader environmental implications of AV deployment, AVs could increase congestion, commute times, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and emissions of GHGs and other air pollutants; induce additional sprawl; increase poor health outcomes, and exacerbate social inequities.

Additional Resources on Automated Vehicles