Virginia lawmakers are currently reviewing Senate Bill 670, introduced by Virginia State Senator Saddam Salim in 2026. The bill, regarding fully autonomous vehicles, was passed by the Senate on February 12, 2026 with a vote of 35-4, and is yet to be voted on by the next session in the House Transportation Committee.
If passed, the bill would allow fully autonomous vehicles—cars that can operate without human drivers—to operate on all Virginia public roads in 2028. Additionally, this bill would create regulations for self-driving taxi services and autonomous delivery trucks, allowing self-driving vehicle companies like Waymo to expand their autonomous vehicle operations into Virginia.
“McLean is a very car-dependent community, so any change to how people drive here would have a major impact,” AP Human Geography teacher Emer Johnson said. “It might increase congestion at first, especially if families let teenagers use autonomous cars, but it also opens the possibility for safer and more flexible commuting over time.”
Autonomous vehicles operate using a system of sensors like LiDAR, cameras, radar, artificial intelligence and high-definition mapping. This system allows self-driving vehicles to navigate traffic, detect obstacles and avoid collisions.
Currently, there are over 30 states that have legislation permitting the testing and limited use of self-driving vehicles. Additionally, there are 6 states that allow fully driverless vehicles to operate: California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.
Across the United States, cars with fully self-driving features, such as certain Tesla models, are already on public roads. But these vehicles are classified semi autonomous and still require human supervision in order to be operated.
“Even with these technologies, students still need to learn the rules of the road,” driver education teacher Marissa Gaines said. “Autonomous cars might drive themselves, but young drivers won’t develop the skills to handle unexpected situations if they rely too much on the technology.”
The introduction of autonomous vehicles to Virginia roads would enable an influx of people with and without licenses, especially teenagers and elderly people, to travel alone. This would likely result in higher rates of traffic with more vehicles on roads, which could increase rates of traffic.
“There are a lot of tricky areas to drive around, like the Mixing Bowl where drivers have to merge across multiple lanes,” Johnson said. “I’m not sure self-driving vehicles would be able to navigate those high-volume, complex situations, which could create safety concerns.”
Students have expressed worries about driving alongside fully autonomous vehicles, especially new drivers who are still learning how to respond to unpredictable situations on the road.
“Sharing the road with self-driving vehicles would make me feel more nervous, especially because seeing people behind the wheel gives me a sense of comfort,” sophomore Harriet Gould said. “I feel like I can’t fully trust the technology used in autonomous vehicles, since it’s only been tested by private companies and we don’t know all the precautions they’ve taken.”
Having autonomous vehicles operate on public roads could also redefine the process of learning to drive. For many teenagers, the focus may shift from mastering control of the wheel to additionally understanding how autonomous systems operate and knowing when to step in if the technology encounters a problem.
“I think having self-driving cars reduces the need for people to get their licenses,” sophomore Sophie Thornton said. “Not having your license is a big step in gaining independence, and relying on technology could make the transition into adulthood a lot harder.”
