Administrative
Resolution No. (501) of 2020
Approving the
Conditions,
Procedures, and Rules Related to
Conducting Test Runs
of Autonomous Vehicles in the Emirate of
Dubai[1]
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The Director General
and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport
Authority,
After perusal of:
Law No. (17) of 2005 Establishing the Roads and Transport Authority
and its amendments;
Executive Council Resolution No. (8) of 2008 Establishing the
Licensing Agency of the Roads and Transports Authority; and
Executive Council Resolution No. (3) of 2019 Regulating Test Runs
of Autonomous Vehicles in the Emirate of Dubai,
Does hereby issue this Resolution.
The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this
Resolution, will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the
context implies otherwise:
|
UAE: |
The United Arab
Emirates. |
|
Emirate: |
The Emirate of
Dubai. |
|
RTA: |
The Roads and
Transport Authority. |
|
Agency: |
The Licensing
Agency of the RTA. |
|
Test Run: |
A set of technical
procedures and processes to which an Autonomous Vehicle is subjected to
verify that it is fit to run on roads depending on its navigation systems and
that it is compatible with the smart systems adopted by the RTA in order to
ensure the safety and security of Passengers and road users. |
|
Autonomous Vehicle: |
A vehicle that is
designed to run on roads, that is operated by a Simulation System, and that
meets the specifications prescribed by the RTA. |
|
Simulation System: |
A smart electronic
system that is designed by the manufacturer of an Autonomous Vehicle as a
means of interaction between the Autonomous Vehicle and road elements and
that achieves various levels of control of the vehicle, up to the level of
driving without any human intervention. |
|
Establishment: |
Any company or
corporation contracted by the RTA to conduct Test Runs for Autonomous
Vehicles, including manufacturers, developers, and agents. |
|
Initial Approval: |
A document issued
by the RTA authorising an Establishment to complete the procedures required
for obtaining an Authorisation. |
|
Authorisation:: |
A document issued
by the RTA authorising an Establishment to conduct Test Runs of Autonomous Vehicles. |
For an Establishment to obtain an Authorisation, it must first
obtain an Initial Approval. The Initial Approval will be issued in accordance
with the following procedures:
1. The Establishment will submit an Initial Approval application on the form prescribed by the RTA for this purpose, supported by the following documents:
a. the technical specifications of the Autonomous Vehicle for which the Test Run will be conducted;
b. the plan proposed by the Establishment to conduct the Test Run for the Autonomous Vehicle;
c. the history of the Test Runs conducted for the Autonomous Vehicle in other countries, if any;
d. an undertaking to provide a comprehensive insurance policy against accidents and civil liability, issued by an insurance company licensed to operate in the UAE. This policy must cover any harm that individuals may sustain and any damage to property, and must be effective as of the date of issuing the Authorisation;
e. the personal details and curriculum vitae of the driver of the Autonomous Vehicle; and
f. an undertaking by the Establishment to sign a contract for conducting a Test Run of the Autonomous Vehicle.
2. The RTA will consider and evaluate the Initial Approval application and the documents attached thereto, and may require the Establishment to provide it with any additional information that is necessary for determining the application.
3. Based on the consideration and evaluation of the Establishment’s
application, the RTA will issue the Initial Approval. The Initial Approval must
include the name of the Establishment; the details of the Autonomous Vehicle
for which the Test Run will be conducted; the name of its driver; the place,
duration, and timings of the Test Run; and any other information the RTA deems
necessary.
a. An Initial Approval will be valid for a period of three (3) months from the date on which it is issued, within which the Establishment will be required to complete the procedures for obtaining the Authorisation.
b. An Establishment may not conduct the Test Run for the Autonomous Vehicle based on the Initial Approval.
c. An Establishment may not vary any details of the Initial Approval, including through the replacement of the Autonomous Vehicle with another vehicle, replacement of the driver, or variation of the specifications of the Autonomous Vehicle, without first obtaining the relevant approval of the RTA.
During the validity of the Initial Approval, an Establishment must, at its own expense:
1. ship the Autonomous Vehicle into the Emirate;
2. configure the settings of the systems of the Autonomous Vehicle for which the Test Run will be conducted, including the settings of high resolution maps;
3. provide the equipment required for supplying the Autonomous Vehicle with power in accordance with the specifications prescribed by the manufacturer, obtain the required approvals from the concerned entities in the Emirate, and meet the technical requirements prescribed by these entities;
4. submit a plan for removing the Autonomous Vehicle off the road, in case of its breakdown during the Test Run, in a manner that ensures that the safety of road users and the traffic flow are not compromised;
5. complete the procedures for licensing the driver who will drive the Autonomous Vehicle for which the Test Run will be conducted;
6. cooperate with the competent RTA employees, including through attending all the preliminary meetings that are convened by the RTA to prepare for the Test Run;
7. submit for approval the final Test Run plan agreed upon with the concerned RTA employees;
8. develop templates of the daily reports on conducting Test Runs for Autonomous Vehicles, and have these templates approved by the RTA;
9. present the Autonomous Vehicle for technical inspection by the RTA; and
10. meet any other obligations stipulated in the legislation in force in the Emirate.
The issuance of an Authorisation will be subject to the following
requirements:
1. The Establishment must register and license the Autonomous Vehicle with the Agency in accordance with the relevant procedures and conditions it adopts, and affix the number plate issued by the Agency to the vehicle to distinguish it from other vehicles during the Test Run.
2. The driver of the Autonomous Vehicle must be licensed by the Agency in accordance with the relevant requirements prescribed by this Resolution and by the Agency.
3. The Establishment must submit the insurance policy referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(d) of Article (2) of this Resolution.
4. The Establishment must conclude with the RTA a contract for conducting the Test Run for the Autonomous Vehicle.
5. The Establishment must meet the obligations stipulated in Article
(4) of this Resolution and the requirements stipulated in the Initial Approval.
An Authorisation will be issued in accordance with the following
procedures:
1. The Establishment will submit the Authorisation application on the form prescribed by the RTA for this purpose, supported by the documents proving that the requirements stipulated in Article (5) of this Resolution are met.
2. The RTA will consider and evaluate the Authorisation application and the documents attached thereto. The RTA may require the Establishment to provide any additional information that is necessary for determining the application.
3. Based on the consideration and evaluation of the Establishment’s
application, the RTA will issue the Authorisation after verifying that the
Establishment has met all the conditions and requirements stipulated in this
Resolution. The Authorisation must include the name of the Establishment; the
details of the Autonomous Vehicle for which the Test Run will be conducted; the
name of the driver; the plan approved for conducting the Test Run; the place,
duration, and timings of the Test Run; and any other information the RTA deems
necessary.
a. An Authorisation will be valid throughout the Test Run for which it is issued. The RTA may, upon the request of the Establishment, extend this validity period.
b. An Establishment may not vary the details of its Authorisation or assign it to a third party without first obtaining the approval of the RTA.
c. Conducting the Test Run for an Autonomous Vehicle after expiry of
the Authorisation will constitute a violation of the road traffic legislation
in force in the UAE.
During the conduct of a Test Run for an
Autonomous Vehicle, an Establishment must:
1. fully cooperate with the RTA and the competent Government entities having jurisdiction over the site of the Test Run, and follow the instructions they issue;
2. follow the plan approved by the RTA for conducting the Test Run;
3. use the site, the routes, and the area designated for conducting the Test Run; and adhere to the approved Test Run timings;
4. submit periodic reports, as per the relevant templates adopted by the RTA, containing all the information related to conducting the Test Run, the stages already completed, the performance outcomes of each stage, the current state of the systems of the Autonomous Vehicle, the number of trips done by the vehicle, and the number of kilometres it has travelled;
5. not publish any written, visual, or audio announcements or media reports related to the Test Run without first coordinating with the RTA and obtaining its approval;
6. not share the results of the Test Run with any entity or provide it with any information or observations noted during the Test Run without first obtaining the relevant approval of the RTA;
7. provide the RTA with access to the electronic system of the Autonomous Vehicle to review the performance of its various components, and allow the RTA to download this information into any electronic storage media the RTA deems appropriate;
8. comply with the terms of the Test Run contract concluded with the RTA;
9. comply with the applicable legislation regulating road traffic in the UAE;
10. cancel the registration of the Autonomous Vehicle and return its number plate to the Agency immediately after completion of the Test Run or cancellation of the Authorisation by the RTA; and
11. comply with any other obligations determined by the RTA or the
competent Government entities in the Emirate.
An Autonomous Vehicle driver must meet the following requirements:
1. He must hold a driver’s licence issued, at least three (3) years prior to the application date, from the UAE or from another country of which he holds the nationality and whose citizens are exempt from applying for the UAE driver's licence; or hold a valid international driver’s licence issued from the country of his residence.
2. He must hold a driver’s licence that matches the category of the Autonomous Vehicle for which the Test Run will be conducted.
3. He must not be less than twenty-five (25) years of age.
4. He must hold a certificate approved by the Establishment confirming that he is fully acquainted with the Simulation System and all technology related to the Autonomous Vehicle for which the Test Run will be conducted.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Agency will issue the
instructions required for the implementation of the provisions of this
Resolution.
This Resolution will be published in the Official Gazette and will
come into force on the day on which it is published.
Mattar Al Tayer
Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive
Directors
Roads and Transport Authority
Issued in Dubai on 13 August 2020
Corresponding to 23 Thu al-Hijjah 1441 A.H.
©2021 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the
Emirate of Dubai
[1]Every effort has been made to produce an
accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the
purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the
original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text will prevail.