DRIVERS and company car owners in the US have just days to prepare for two new ‘Labor Day’ laws.
These could have a major effect on how motorists use the vehicles in the future.
One of the new rules comes with a $200 fee for a steering wheel mistake.
The first of the new laws coming into effect on September 1 will require drivers of certain cars to obtain a permit.
The law applies to fully autonomous cars.
These will be required to have a permit to operate in the state of Texas.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, signed SB 2807, which requires authorization from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for self-driving cars on public streets that will operate without human interaction.
State to review vehicles
As of September 1, state authorities will have to review self-driving vehicles and approve them before they can take to the streets.
Companies with autonomous cars need to have a full plan for how to respond to potential emergencies caused by the self-driving tech.
Earleir this month, Tesla Inc was reportedly granted a rideshare license in Texas.
This paves the way for the electric-vehicle maker to operate its robotaxi service under the new regulations.
But this isn’t the only new rule that will affect US drivers from September 1.
From then, people in South Carolina will have to watch where they put their hands when behind the wheel.
This is because the Palmetto State is the 33rd to sign a hands-free rule into law.
Under this legislation, people will be banned from touching their cell phones while driving.
Drivers across the United States are having to adjust to a slew of new road rules that take effect in 2025.
Some of those include a Daylighting law that prohibits drivers from parking their cars within 20 feet of any crosswalk in California.
Stricter penalties
Other new laws introduced this year include stricter street racing penalties in California and changes to car seat age and weight requirements in Colorado.
One of the first new laws introduced in 2025 came in January 1, which changes the way drivers can carry their license.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill into law on Monday which will allow drivers to carry digital versions of their license – without risking a penalty.
Recently signed into law, House Bill 4592 gives Illinois residents the option to keep a “mobile Illinois Identification Card or mobile driver’s license”.
But this doesn’t mean the end of physical ID cards, as the digital version would be issued in addition to the regular card, not instead.
The new law also allows agencies and businesses to choose whether they want to accept digital IDs – but stops anyone from requiring a digital ID over a physical version.
What’s more, residents would still have to show their physical ID card to law enforcement, if they request it.
Up, up and away – the global race for flying taxis
THE global race for flying taxis, or urban air mobility (UAM), is highly competitive, with numerous companies developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and related technologies.
The competition is driving rapid advancements in the field, and many players aim to launch commercial operations within the next few years.
As well as Wisk Aero, here are some of the prominent players in this space:
JOBY AVIATION – Santa Cruz, California, USA: Joby Aviation is one of the leading companies in the eVTOL space. It has received significant investment from Toyota and has partnered with Uber. Joby aims to launch an aerial ridesharing service.
VOLOCOPTER – Bruchsal, Germany: Volocopter develops electric helicopters designed for urban air mobility. The Volocopter 2X and VoloCity are their flagship models. The company has conducted test flights in various cities, including Singapore and Dubai.
LILIUM – Munich, Germany: Lilium is developing the Lilium Jet, a five-seat eVTOL aircraft. The company aims to create a regional air mobility network. Lilium has raised substantial funding and has conducted several successful test flights.
ARCHER AVIATION – Palo Alto, California, USA: Archer is focused on developing a fully electric air taxi. The company has a partnership with United Airlines and plans to launch commercial operations by 2024.
EHANG – Guangzhou, China: EHang develops autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) for passenger and logistics transportation. The EHang 216 is a notable model that has been tested in various cities worldwide.
EMBRAERX (EVE AIR MOBILITY) – São José dos Campos, Brazil: Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, is developing eVTOL aircraft and urban air traffic management solutions. The company aims to leverage Embraer’s aerospace expertise to advance UAM.
HYUNDAI URBAN AIR MOBILITY (SUPERNAL) – South Korea / USA: Hyundai is actively developing eVTOL aircraft through its Supernal division. The company envisions integrating air taxis into urban transportation networks.
BELL TEXTRON – Fort Worth, Texas, USA: Bell is developing the Nexus 4EX, an eVTOL aircraft designed for urban air mobility. Bell has a long history in helicopter manufacturing and aims to apply its expertise to the UAM sector
