They’re just guidelines and they’re toothless, but the contents of the Trump administration’s updated policy paper on autonomous vehicles are important for getting everyone on the same page so innovation can blossom. The rise of self-driving cars means more mobility options for those with disabilities, less commuter congestion, and fewer freeway fatalities, so the sooner it gets here the better. Such was the message from U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and other federal officials as they released Automated Driving Systems: A Vision for Safety 2.0 at the University of Michigan’s Mcity test site in Ann Arbor this week. ?We are going to emphasize safety, but we also want to preserve the creativity and the innovation that?s a hallmark of America,? Chao told reporters. Officials were quick to point out that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will still have enforcement authority over safety-related defects in motor vehicles, and that includes those with emerging automated-driving technology. “NHTSA remains responsible for regulating the safety design and performance aspects of motor vehicles and motor-vehicle equipment. States continue to be responsible for regulating the human driver and vehicle operations,” the document reads. In other words, the federal government will handle safety issues; states will take care of licensing, registration, and insurance.
The 2.0 Vision is an update of and replacement for ...