In one paragraph
Virginia's SB 320 adds Code § 33.2-274.2, letting VDOT run a pilot of autonomous truck-mounted attenuators (ATMAs), the crash-cushion trucks that trail road crews, in mobile work zones moving at no more than 25 mph. In the pilot, ATMAs may drive in autonomous mode without a human driver aboard in active work zones on state-maintained highways, in a leader-follower setup watched by a remote operator who can steer or stop them; outside work zones a human must drive. Units must pass a VDOT-approved test plan. Expires December 31, 2031. Identical to HB 582; effective July 1, 2026.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
Makers of autonomous truck-mounted attenuators: units in VDOT's pilot must pass a VDOT-approved test plan and run in leader-follower mode under a remote operator, with a human driver outside work zones.
Key provisions
- New Code § 33.2-274.2: the Department of Transportation may establish a pilot program for autonomous truck-mounted attenuators (ATMAs) in mobile work zones
- Mobile work zone: a continuous or intermittent multi-vehicle mobile operation moving at no more than 25 mph for highway maintenance or construction, such as striping, debris removal and pothole repair
- In the pilot, ATMAs may run in autonomous mode in active mobile work zones on state-maintained highways, in a leader-follower configuration, continuously monitored by a remote operator who can see the surroundings and adjust the path or stop the vehicle
- No human driver needs to be aboard in autonomous mode; outside active work zones, including travel to and from them, a human driver must operate and occupy the ATMA
- No ATMA may be used until it passes testing under a VDOT-approved plan showing reliable leader-follower operation; VDOT reviews and approves the results
- VDOT reports on the pilot's status and efficacy to the House and Senate Transportation Committees by December 1 each year; the act expires December 31, 2031
- Approved by the Governor April 6, 2026 (Chapter 180; identical to HB 582, Chapter 179); effective July 1, 2026
Latest legislative action
Apr 6, 2026. Approved by Governor-Chapter 180 (effective 7/1/2026)
Sponsors (showing 5 of 10)
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Danica A. Roem D | Primary |
| Frank M. Ruff, Jr. | Primary |
| Jill Holtzman Vogel | Primary |
| Kannan Srinivasan D | Primary |
| Lynwood W. Lewis, Jr. | Primary |
Roll call votes (showing 3 of 5)
H VOTE: Feb 27, 2026
96 yea0 nay3 otherPassed
Reported from Transportation Feb 24, 2026
21 yea0 nayPassed
Passage R Jan 28, 2026
40 yea0 nayPassed
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error