On May 20, 2021, Manitoba's new legislation allowing
testing of automated driving systems came into force. Bill
20, The Vehicle Technology Testing Act,
amends The Highway Traffic Act, The
Insurance Act and The Manitoba Public Insurance
(MPI) Corporation Act to allow for the testing of
vehicles with automated driving systems or other new technology on
Manitoba roads.
What this means
Under The Highway Traffic Act, the minister may
issue a technology testing permit to allow a test vehicle to be
driven on Manitoba's provincial roads for the purpose of
either testing a type of vehicle or vehicle technology, or
evaluating the safety or performance of a type of vehicle or
vehicle technology. In addition, a vehicle or new vehicle
technology with a technology testing permit, can be exempted from
certain highway traffic law requirements found in The
Drivers and Vehicles Act, The Off-Road Vehicles
Act or their respective regulations.