Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) Advisory Council and Support

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Connected and Automated Vehicles (Advisory Council) was established to study, assess, and prepare for widespread adoption of CAVs, and provide advice and support to the governor, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), and the Department of Public Safety. The Advisory Council must meet at least four times annually to discuss advancements in CAV technologies, evaluate potential partnerships to prepare for the adoption of CAVs, and propose laws and regulations to safely test and implement CAVs.

The Advisory Council published a report in December 2018 that recommended changes to statutes, rules, and policies related to CAVs. Report recommendations included funding pilot projects to ensure that CAV technology is safely implemented, developing laws to adapt to CAVs, prioritizing equitable implementation of CAVs, and conducting public education and outreach on CAVs. The Advisory Council must prepare an annual report for the governor with updates on the activities and actions need to ensure Minnesota is advancing CAVs.

MnDOT and the Department of Public Safety will establish guidelines for development, testing, and deployment of CAV technologies, and will support safe and effective testing and use at every level of autonomy, including driverless technology. MnDOT will form the Interagency CAV Team to implement the tasks outlined above. For more information, see the MnDOT CAVs website.

(Reference Executive Order 19-18, 2019)