Overview
- Rep. Kam Buckner filed legislation to authorize autonomous-vehicle pilots in Cook, Sangamon, Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties, with IDOT empowered to approve or revoke operators.
- After three years, IDOT could allow statewide deployment if the pilots demonstrate safety and operational readiness, and AVs would be required to carry motor-vehicle liability coverage.
- Waymo supports the proposal and cites internal data showing 10 times fewer serious-injury crashes and 12 times fewer pedestrian-injury crashes than human drivers in its markets.
- Critics including the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the Illinois Drivers Alliance oppose the measure, and ABATE of Illinois is pushing a separate plan to require public disclosure after collisions.
- Cities must opt in to participate, Rosemont has been discussed as a candidate, Chicago’s mayor has not committed, and a federal probe of a recent Waymo child-injury incident adds scrutiny to safety claims.