New Jersey should give driverless cars a chance on its roads.
Driverless cars already carry riders in other states, and across the Delaware, Pennsylvania lets certified operators run them with no one in the driver's seat. New Jersey has no law that allows fully driverless cars yet. A bill to start a three-year pilot, S1677/A3968, cleared its first committees with no votes against. Now it's waiting in appropriations.
Safer streets and more ways to get around
Safety
A glance at a phone at the wrong moment is all it takes. A driverless car never picks one up.
of New Jersey crashes in 2024 involved a distracted driver.
Accessibility
Many New Jerseyans 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 New Jersey adults say AVs would benefit residents with disabilities.
Getting home late
Nurses, cooks and bartenders often finish work in the middle of the night. A driverless ride could get them home without a long wait at a dark bus stop.
of New Jersey adults are concerned about public transit safety late at night.
Independence for seniors
Giving up the car keys shouldn't mean missing a checkup or Sunday dinner with the family. Driverless cars could help older New Jerseyans keep getting around on their own.
of New Jersey adults say AVs would benefit seniors.
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 pilot582
people died in crashes on New Jersey roads in 2025.
Source: NJ Attorney General
30%
of the people killed on New Jersey roads in 2025 were pedestrians, well above the national share.
Source: NJ Attorney General, GHSA
Where the AV pilot bill stands
S1677/A3968
First committees, Done
Senate Transportation, passed 5 to 0
Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology, passed 4 to 0
Appropriations
Stuck here
Senate Budget and Appropriations
Assembly Appropriations
Floor votes, Not yet
Full Senate and Assembly
Governor's signature, Not yet
Gov. Mikie Sherrill
New Jersey AVs in the News
Driverless Cars Could One Day Empower Blind New Jerseyans
New Jersey Moves Closer to Driverless Car Testing
Driverless cars get green light from NJ Senate panel
Senate panel approves bill that would create autonomous vehicle pilot program
Self-driving shuttles are coming to Newark Airport this spring
New Jersey Voters Ready to Embrace Autonomous Vehicles
Sources
Pennsylvania lets certified operators run AVs with no safety driver in the driver's seat, under Act 130 of 2022.
New Jersey has no law that allows fully driverless cars yet, and S1677/A3968 has not been enacted.
The S1677/A3968 committee substitute sets up a three-year AV pilot program run by NJDOT.
Senate Transportation passed S1677 5-0 and sent it to Senate Budget and Appropriations. It has not moved since.
Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology passed A3968 4-0 and sent it to Assembly Appropriations. It has not moved since.
42% of New Jersey crashes in 2024 involved a distracted driver.
73% of New Jersey adults say AVs would benefit residents with disabilities.
64% of New Jersey adults are concerned about public transit safety late at night.
71% of New Jersey adults say AVs would benefit seniors.
87% of New Jersey adults are concerned about distracted drivers.
70% of New Jersey adults are concerned about pedestrian safety.
86% of New Jersey adults are concerned about drunk drivers.
60% of New Jersey adults agree AVs can make it easier for New Jerseyans with disabilities to reach jobs.
58% of New Jersey adults say AVs could fill gaps where transportation is lacking.
An independent study found driverless cars had far fewer injury crashes per mile than human drivers in the same areas.
582 people died in New Jersey traffic crashes in 2025, down from 684 in 2024, by the Attorney General's count. The State Police's later year-end report counts 578.
Pedestrians were 175 of the 582 New Jersey traffic deaths in 2025 (30%), by the Attorney General's count. The State Police's later report counts 176 of 578, also 30%.
Nationally, pedestrians were 18% of traffic deaths in 2024 (federal FARS data), the newest national figure. New Jersey's 30% uses state counts.
The survey reached 736 New Jersey adults online, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 points.