Today the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a four part safety policy for the testing and deployment of automated vehicles.
The policy-making stands as proof of the DOT’s faith in automated vehicle technology to improve road safety. According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, “automated vehicles have the potential to save thousands of lives, driving the single biggest leap in road safety that our country has ever taken. This policy is an unprecedented step by the federal government to harness the benefits of transformative technology by providing a framework for how to do it safely.”
The four part policy for regulating automated vehicles includes:
- A 15 point safety assessment designed to guide manufacturers and designers of automated vehicles.
- A “Model State Policy” which attempts to differentiate federal responsibility from state responsibility in regulating automated vehicles.
- “NHTSA’s Current Regulatory Tools” — a provision of the policy intended to streamline the testing process for automated vehicles by using NHTSA regulations that are already in place.
- “Modern Regulatory Tools” — a broad category designed to help lawmaker explore new necessary rule making and regulatory structures for the wider deployment of automated vehicle technology.
DOT says that they are very interested in seeking public input on developing the automated vehicle policy. Foxx stated, “public input has been essential to getting this right. There has been a strong call from state and local governments, industry, safety experts, mobility advocates, and average Americans to establish a clear policy for the deployment of automated vehicles on our roads. There are huge upsides and significant challenges that come with automated vehicle technology, and we will continue the conversation with the public over the coming months and years as this technology develops.”
You can read the full policy in the document below.
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