Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets, founding members of which include Ford, Google, Lyft, Uber and Volvo, called the regulatory framework “an important first step: in the deployment of autonomous cars”. Officials hope the guidelines will bring order to what has been a chaotic rollout so far.
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The document also includes ways to ensure that the technology in the self-driving cars works properly, how to share and record data, how well a self-driving vehicle would-survive a crash, and what such a vehicle would do post-crash.
The proposals gave automakers and technology companies investing in automated driving many things they wanted, including a call for a single, national set of rules for self-driving cars. Many also argue that cars will reduce road congestion and carbon emissions. “That’s what harnessing technology for good can look like. But we have to get it right”, he added. “Americans deserve to know they’ll be safe today even as we develop and deploy the technologies of tomorrow”. He also cautioned that many details remain unclear.
Foxx pointed out that drivers and cars have always been regulated by individual states in a “patchwork” of laws.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx discusses new federal guidelines for autonomous vehicles during a September 20 press conference.
The federal recommendations don’t override states’ right to make rules relating to auto registrations, insurance, traffic laws and driver’s licenses, but the policy does urge states to resist issuing countering safety standards for driverless cars. The agency “must not shy away from assuring public safety with minimum federal vehicle safety standards”. Though companies are not required to follow the guidance – it is voluntary and does not carry the force of formal regulation – Foxx said he expects companies to comply. We have to have a level of confidence. California now requires a steering wheel and brake pedals, but NHTSA has the authority to approve vehicles without them if the agency decides they’re safe. The person requested anonymity because the guidelines had not yet been made public. “We are moving forward on the safe deployment of automated technologies because of the enormous promise they hold to address the overwhelming majority of crashes and save lives”, NHTSA administrator Mark Rosekind said.
The safety policies unveiled are merely guidelines and are not steadfast rules and regulations, he noted.
Jeff Zients, director of the White House’s National Economic Council, said the government is strongly behind the development of autonomous vehicles.
But the rulemaking process is often laborious and can take years to complete.
“Last December, we were disappointed that California released draft regulations for operation of autonomous vehicles that specifically excluded fully self-driving cars, despite strong public support for this technology, particularly from the disability community”, Urmson said to the Senate at the time.
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“We believe guidance from NHTSA is crucial to achieving these goals as it recognizes the challenges specific to regulating a new technology”. Other automakers are testing their systems on public roads in other states.
