RoboSafety first,
and by the rules.
A plain-language overview of the federal and Arkansas rules for driverless vehicles, with sources.
General information, not legal advice. Summary as of October 2026; check the linked sources for current text.
Tesla's official Robotaxi safety report
Tesla's live page of driverless miles and crash data for its Robotaxi fleet. Published by Tesla, Inc.; RoboRide is independent.
NHTSA sets the vehicle rules.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulates vehicle safety: makers certify vehicles to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Cars without a steering wheel can use NHTSA's exemption program, opened to U.S.-built vehicles in 2025. NHTSA · NHTSA report to Congress, July 2025
Under NHTSA's Standing General Order (current version June 16, 2025), automated-driving operators must report crashes; serious ones, such as an injury, a struck pedestrian or an air-bag deployment, within five days. NHTSA Standing General Order
Current NHTSA reviews of Tesla's robotaxis
NHTSA is reviewing how Tesla certified the Cybercab to federal standards; according to news reports, Tesla's sworn answers were due October 30, 2026, and Tesla has since received a 30-day extension. Teslarati · Not a Tesla App
Separately, on October 9, 2026 NHTSA opened a review of a defect petition (DP26010) alleging that Tesla robotaxis, Model Y and Cybercab, exceeded posted speed limits in active school zones. NHTSA will decide whether to open a formal investigation. The Verge
Arkansas allows driverless networks, with approval.
- 2019: pilot program. Act 468 of 2019 first allowed autonomous vehicles on Arkansas roads under a pilot program approved by the State Highway Commission. Act 468 (2019)
- 2021: current framework. Act 619 of 2021 replaced the pilot. Under Ark. Code §§ 27-51-2001 to -2006, autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles may operate under an autonomous vehicle program approved by the State Highway Commission. Act 619 (2021) · Ark. Code § 27-51-2001
- Rides and goods. The law defines an "on-demand driverless capable vehicle network" (an app-dispatched service carrying persons or goods) and says a person may operate one in the state (§ 27-51-2003). Act 619
- Operators are licensed. A human operator, or a remote operator of a fully autonomous vehicle, must hold a valid driver's license for that vehicle class (§ 27-51-2004). Act 619
- One statewide rulebook. The State Highway Commission implements the law, and local governments can't add their own operating requirements or AV-specific taxes. Arkansas DFA fiscal impact summary
- A supervised start. Under the Commission's rules (27 CAR Part 115), a human operator must be physically present in the vehicle for the first six months of an approved program. After that, the operator may apply to remove that requirement by submitting trip, mileage, disengagement and crash information. 27 CAR § 115-105 · 27 CAR Part 115
- Applying. Programs are submitted to the State Highway Commission through ARDOT. ARDOT autonomous vehicles
What this means for RoboRide.
No shortcuts on approval
Driverless service in Arkansas requires an approved autonomous vehicle program, and we won't carry riders or goods without one. Where we are in that process will be shown on our roadmap.
Supervised before driverless
State rules require a human operator on board for the first six months of an approved program. We see that period as a feature, not a hurdle.
The technology
The Cybercab runs Tesla's autonomous driving software. Tesla publishes its own safety data for its driverless Robotaxi fleet; we link to it rather than repeat its claims. Tesla Robotaxi Vehicle Safety Report
Transparency
As service begins, we'll post updates here on how RoboRide operates.