On January 22, 2019, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation
(Ministry) moved one step closer to a future with driverless
vehicles by expanding its 10-year pilot project to test and
evaluate the use of automated vehicles (AVs) on Ontario
roadways.
Effective January 1, 2019, eligible participants in the
Automated Vehicle Pilot Program (AV Pilot) are permitted to
remotely operate automated passenger and commercial vehicles and
streetcars on public roadways without a passenger in the
driver's seat of the vehicle (Driverless AVs). Prior to this
announcement, automated vehicles were only permitted on public
roadways in Ontario if a driver was always seated in the
driver's seat of the AV and monitoring the vehicle's
operation. In addition, AVs equipped with Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) international driving automation level 3 can now be
driven on Ontario roads and are no longer restricted to pilot
participants, subject to certain conditions.
