Are Autonomous Vehicles Right for Nashville? What to Know About Waymo’s Self-Driving Car Test

How Do Self-Driving Cars or Autonomous Vehicles Work?

Autonomous vehicles seem to be something out of futuristic sci-fi movies, but the future is here. Self-driving cars use sensors that include cameras, radar, and LiDAR along with advanced software to “see” what is surrounding them.

Before Waymo can launch a fully operational fleet of self-driving cars in Nashville, they plan on doing a test that will take about six weeks. This test is meant to collect data and understand the Nashville market.

In The Article

Waymo Will Test Self-Driving Cars in Nashville

In the last week of March, Waymo began testing its autonomous vehicles on the streets of Nashville. After teaming up with Uber, Nashvillians are now able to choose if they’d like a self-driving car instead of a driver when they schedule a ride on the ride share app. While there are a lot of great benefits to having all-electric self-driving vehicles, people are noting some downsides. So, what exactly do autonomous vehicles mean for Nashville drivers and rideshare patrons?

What Are the Risks of Self-Driving Vehicles?

Advocates of self-driving vehicles will note that the majority of traffic accidents can be attributed to human error or neglect, self-driving vehicle tests in major cities have shown that there are risks involved with autonomous vehicles.

In June of 2024, Waymo recalled 672 of its autonomous vehicles to because of an issue of “insufficient ability to avoid pole or pole-like permanent objects within the drivable surface [which] may result in an increased risk of a collision.” This recall was put into place over three years after a Waymo autonomous vehicle hit a pole while picking up a passenger. No one was hurt in the incident, but the self-driving vehicle was “severely damaged.”

The reports don’t end there. In 2021, riders reported vehicles braking suddenly because nearby birds were flying by. In a different instance, a passenger nearly missed his flight because his autonomous vehicle didn’t stop at the airport, and instead circled the parking area eight times.

Additionally, in 2024, a Waymo and the robotaxi compony Zooz are under federal investigation. The safety probe from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began after the administration received “22 reports of Waymo vehicles either crashing or doing something that may have violated traffic laws,” according to KQED.

With recalls and potential erratic driving, who is liable if someone is injured due to a wreck with a self-driving car?

Are Driverless Vehicles Legal in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, it is legal for a full autonomous vehicle to be driven without any human operator, but there are stipulations. First of all, the vehicle must be certified by the manufacturer as being compliant with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Secondly, in the event of automated-driving-system operations failure, the vehicle must be capable of achieving a minimal risk condition. Finally, the “vehicle must be registered in accordance with Title 55, Chapter 4, and identified as an ADS-operated vehicle,” according to TN.gov. Additionally, driverless vehicles (ADS-operated vehicles) must carry $5 million liability coverage.

Who is Liable When an Autonomous Vehicle Crashes?

In many cases of vehicular accidents, a person can be held at fault. In these cases, the negligent party is held at fault. However, when an autonomous vehicle is the cause or partially at fault for a wreck, the law can get a little muddy.

That’s where 2024 Tennessee Code Title 55 – MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES (§§ 55-1-101 — 55-53-105) Chapter 30 – AUTOMATED VEHICLES ACT (§§ 55-30-101 — 55-30-108) Section 55-30-106 – Liability for accidents involving an ADS-operated vehicle comes into play.

The title states, “Liability for accidents involving an ADS-operated vehicle shall be determined in accordance with product liability law, common law, or other applicable federal or state law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect, alter, or amend any right, obligation, or liability under applicable product liability law, common law, federal law, or state law.” Additionally, the liability falls on the vehicle owner or lessee. This liability includes injury, death, and property damage from a driverless vehicle as well any traffic violations that the vehicle commits.

What to Do if You’ve Been in an Accident with a Driverless Vehicle

If you’ve been injured by a driverless vehicle in Nashville, and it wasn’t your fault, be sure to know what to do after a car accident in Nashville. Take pictures of the scene; file a police report; seek medical attention, if necessary; and contact a Nashville car accident lawyer.