Know Before You Drive Act

The Know Before You Drive Act requires manufacturers and dealers to provide clear information to consumers about the capabilities and limitations of partially automated vehicles, and prohibits misleading claims about such systems.

Sec. 2, Consumer education: Manufacturers are banned from making claims that imply a partially automated driving system is a fully automated system or has capabilities beyond what it can actually do. Within two years, manufacturers or dealers must give buyers a clear notice describing the vehicle's partially automated system, its features, capabilities, limitations, and the driver's responsibilities, such as supervising the system and responding to requests to intervene. Manufacturers must provide this notice to dealers before delivery. Dealers are not liable if the manufacturer fails to provide the notice, and manufacturers are not liable if the dealer fails to give it to the buyer.

Sec. 2(c), Updates: Starting two years after enactment, manufacturers must provide clear notice to owners, lessees, or drivers of any software update that materially changes the performance of the driving task, describing each material change to the system's capabilities and limitations.

Sec. 2(d), Enforcement authority: Violations can be enforced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with violations treated as unfair or deceptive acts. State attorneys general can also bring civil actions to enjoin violations, enforce compliance, and obtain damages or restitution, but must notify the FTC first. Federal actions can limit state actions.

Sec. 2(e), Amendment of Automobile Information Disclosure Act: New cars with partially or fully automated driving systems must include a label with plain-language or graphic information that allows easy comparison, including a description of the system's subtasks, whether driver supervision is needed, conditions outside the system's operational design domain, and any required service costs or fees.

Sec. 2(f), Regulations: Within nine months, the Secretary of Transportation must issue regulations to implement the labeling requirements within two years of enactment.

Sec. 2(g), Rule of construction: Nothing in this section exempts an individual from liability under common or state law.

Sec. 2(h), Definitions: Key terms are defined, including "automated driving system" (hardware and software that perform the entire dynamic driving task), "dynamic driving task" (real-time operational and tactical functions like steering, acceleration, and monitoring), "operational design domain" (specific operating conditions for a system), "partially automated driving system" (a system that performs lateral and longitudinal motion but expects driver monitoring), and "purchaser" (an individual who buys or leases a vehicle before first sale).