ACT No 310
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 308
BY REPRESENTATIVE HAVARD AND SENATOR CORTEZ
AN ACT
To amend and reenact R.S. 32:81(B) and © and to enact R.S. 32:1(95) and 81(D), (E), and (F), relative to vehicle platooning; to authorize non-lead motor vehicles in a platoon to follow other motor vehicles in a platoon closely; to exempt non-lead motor vehicles in a platoon from operating such vehicle in a manner that allows sufficient space to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy the space between any motor vehicle in a platoon; to authorize platoon operation upon approval of an operational plan by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the Department of Transportation and Development; to provide for rulemaking authority; to provide for a prohibition against platoon operation; to provide for definitions; and to provide for related matters.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
Section 1. R.S. 32:81(B) and © are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 32:1(95) and 81(D), (E), and (F) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
§ 1. Definitions
When used in this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
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(95) "Platoon" or "platooning" means a group of individual motor vehicles, including any truck, truck-tractor, trailer, semitrailer, or any combination of these vehicles, utilizing vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology to travel in a unified manner at close following distances.
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§ 81. Following vehicles; exceptions
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B. The driver of a motor truck, when traveling upon a highway outside a business or residential district area, shall not follow another motor truck within four hundred feet, but this shall not be so construed as to prevent one motor truck from overtaking and passing another.
C. Motor vehicles being driven upon any roadway outside of a business or residence district residential area in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not towing other vehicles, shall be so operated as to allow sufficient space between each such vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger. This provision shall not apply to a funeral procession.
D. A platoon may be operated pursuant to this Section if the platoon operator has an operational plan approved by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, and the Department of Transportation and Development. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, and the Department of Transportation and Development may promulgate rules as necessary to implement the provisions of this Subsection.
E. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the operation of a non- lead motor vehicle in a platoon.
F. The operation of a platoon shall not be authorized on a two-lane highway.
Section 2. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2019.
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 308
BY REPRESENTATIVE HAVARD AND SENATOR CORTEZ
AN ACT
To amend and reenact R.S. 32:81(B) and © and to enact R.S. 32:1(95) and 81(D), (E), and (F), relative to vehicle platooning; to authorize non-lead motor vehicles in a platoon to follow other motor vehicles in a platoon closely; to exempt non-lead motor vehicles in a platoon from operating such vehicle in a manner that allows sufficient space to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy the space between any motor vehicle in a platoon; to authorize platoon operation upon approval of an operational plan by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the Department of Transportation and Development; to provide for rulemaking authority; to provide for a prohibition against platoon operation; to provide for definitions; and to provide for related matters.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
Section 1. R.S. 32:81(B) and © are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 32:1(95) and 81(D), (E), and (F) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
§ 1. Definitions
When used in this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
* * *
(95) "Platoon" or "platooning" means a group of individual motor vehicles, including any truck, truck-tractor, trailer, semitrailer, or any combination of these vehicles, utilizing vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology to travel in a unified manner at close following distances.
* * *
§ 81. Following vehicles; exceptions
* * *
B. The driver of a motor truck, when traveling upon a highway outside a business or residential district area, shall not follow another motor truck within four hundred feet, but this shall not be so construed as to prevent one motor truck from overtaking and passing another.
C. Motor vehicles being driven upon any roadway outside of a business or residence district residential area in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not towing other vehicles, shall be so operated as to allow sufficient space between each such vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger. This provision shall not apply to a funeral procession.
D. A platoon may be operated pursuant to this Section if the platoon operator has an operational plan approved by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, and the Department of Transportation and Development. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, and the Department of Transportation and Development may promulgate rules as necessary to implement the provisions of this Subsection.
E. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the operation of a non- lead motor vehicle in a platoon.
F. The operation of a platoon shall not be authorized on a two-lane highway.
Section 2. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2019.