The District should give driverless cars a chance on its streets.
DC law has allowed autonomous vehicle (AV) testing on District roads since 2013, as long as a test operator is present. B26‑0684 would set up a path for AVs to operate in the District. It was introduced May 1 and had a public hearing July 13, but the committee hasn't voted on it yet. The Council's last scheduled vote of the year is December 15.
Safer streets and more ways to get around
Safety
Walking to the Metro or across the street to school shouldn't feel like a risk. A driverless car never looks at a phone, never drives drunk and never nods off.
of the people killed on DC roads in 2025 were pedestrians.
Accessibility
Many residents who are blind or have other disabilities can't drive, so they wait on paratransit or a ride from family. A car that drives itself could let them leave when they're ready.
of DC residents have a disability.
Getting around without a car
Plenty of DC neighborhoods aren't near a Metro stop, and many families don't own a car. A driverless car could pick you up at your door, day or night.
of Ward 8 households don't have a car.
Getting home late
Cooks, bartenders and hospital staff often head home late, and Metrorail closes at midnight most nights. A driverless ride could get them home without a long wait at a dark bus stop.
of DC traffic deaths in 2025 happened between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Did you know?
An independent study found driverless cars get into far fewer injury crashes than human drivers.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Help pass the AV bill32
people have died on DC roads so far in 2026, up from 17 at this point last year.
Source: MPD
18
of those 32 were walking, biking or riding a scooter.
Source: DDOT Vision Zero
Where the AV bill stands
B26‑0684
Introduced and heard, Done
Introduced May 1
Public hearing July 13
Committee vote
Stuck here
Committee on Transportation and the Environment
Council votes, Not yet
First and final readings
Last scheduled vote: Dec. 15
Mayor and Congress, Not yet
The Mayor's approval
Congressional review
DC AVs in the News
60-year-old cyclist dies after crash with box truck near Logan Circle
Traffic deaths surge in DC, data shows
5 people hit and killed in pedestrian crashes in DC area within days
D.C. has a chance to lead on equitable transit through AVs
'Big step forward': DC councilmember lays out plan for self-driving taxis
At last, a sign of progress for robotaxis in D.C.
Could driverless car service make women feel safer calling a ride in DC?
Human drivers reject me. Now I'll finally have another option.
Sources
The Autonomous Vehicle Act of 2012 took effect April 23, 2013 and allowed AVs on DC roads with a driver ready to take control.
Current law lets companies test AVs with a test operator physically present.
B26-0684, the Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026, was introduced May 1, 2026 and referred to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment on May 5. Its public hearing was July 13, 2026. LIMS lists no committee vote, first reading or final reading since then and shows the bill as Under Council Review.
The Council's last scheduled legislative meeting of 2026 is Dec. 15. More meetings could still be called.
14 of the 25 people killed on DC roads in 2025 (56%) were pedestrians, counted from the road user listed for each 2025 fatal crash.
12.6% of DC residents have a disability (87,510 of 691,979 civilians not living in an institution). The page rounds it to 13%.
43% of Ward 8 households have no vehicle (16,615 of 38,645).
WMATA lists Metrorail's general hours as ending at midnight Sunday through Thursday and at 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
13 of the 25 people killed on DC roads in 2025 (52%) died in crashes between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., counted from the crash time listed for each 2025 fatal crash.
An independent study found driverless cars had far fewer injury crashes per mile than human drivers in the same areas.
DC has recorded 32 traffic deaths so far in 2026, up from 17 at the same point in 2025.
18 of the 32 people killed on DC roads so far in 2026 were walking, biking or riding a scooter (15 pedestrians, 2 bicyclists and 1 scooter rider), counted from the road user listed for each 2026 fatal crash.
After a committee approves a bill, it needs a first and a final reading by the full Council, the Mayor's approval and a congressional review period before it becomes law.