Government developing policies for self-driving cars

The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) revised guidance on automotive technology added, as reported by Autoblog: “This is an area of rapid change, which requires DOT and NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) to remain flexible and adaptable as new information and technologies emerge”. “Her most pressing task will be to temper concerns by antitrust enforcement officials in the European Union, which has accused the company of abusing its dominance in web search”, the New York Times reports.

“NHTSA will continue its efforts, in concert with other entities within and outside DOT, to incentivize the development and adoption of technologies using vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, so that Americans enjoy the full benefits of connected-vehicle safety technology”, the statement also noted. He also said to figure out how to eliminate barriers to move quicker.

Regulators will set as a condition that companies demonstrate that their autonomous cars can operate safely and plan to develop formal guidance “on the safe deployment and operation of autonomous vehicles” within six months. Cars could warn drivers of an impending collision or brake to prevent a collision before the driver had even seen the other vehicle. He wanted all cars, expensive or cheap, to have this technology so the safety of the owners won’t be suffered. Speaking to a conference of transportation researchers earlier this week, Foxx said he’s concerned that the federal regulatory process can’t keep up with the fast pace of the technology that is making self-driving cars possible. A second important direction would result from this extended cooperation, as last September ten automakers agreed to make automatic emergency braking systems standard on all their future vehicles. The agreement includes things about recalls, reporting safety defects and free advertising from the industry.