Feds want to regulate self-driving vehicles

Dan Majors is a reporter for the Post-Gazette. “That’s the general principle here”.

Obama wrote that the quickest way to slam the brakes on innovation is if the public loses confidence in the safety of the new technology, and the responsibility of both government and industry is to make sure it doesn’t happen.

Transportation officials said at the briefing they want Alphabet Inc’s Google unit, Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL], Tesla and others to answer safety assessment questions within six months about self-driving vehicles and systems such as Tesla’s Autopilot, which allows limited hands-free driving on highways.

With a new autonomous vehicle startup seemingly appearing each week and almost every automaker committing to self-driving vehicles, the Department of Transportation is issuing its clearest guidance to date in an attempt to take the reins of an industry that’s moving at a pace the feds have rarely, if ever, encountered.

“We’re also giving guidance to states on how to wisely regulate these new technologies, so that when a self-driving auto crosses from OH into Pennsylvania, its passengers can be confident that other vehicles will be just as responsibly deployed and just as safe”, the president wrote.

“Instead, this automated-vehicle policy envisions greater transparency as DOT works with manufacturers to ensure that safety is appropriately addressed on the front end of development”.

Traditional automakers and tech companies have been testing self-driving prototypes on public roads for several years, with a human in the driver’s seat just in case. “A policy that evolves is smart given the pace of technology”.

It also describes a model state policy for regulation of driverless vehicles.

The guidelines will go into effect immediately and are created to help manufacturers better understand the level of safety and performance semi- and fully-autonomous vehicles will need to achieve.

NHTSA’s current regulatory tools. “We will not hesitate to use our recall authority when we have identified a defect that presents an unreasonable risk to safety”, Foxx said.

The R Street Institute will continue to examine and evaluate these guidelines in the coming days and weeks and looks forward to playing a collaborative and constructive role in the public-policy discussion to come.

New tools and authorities.

“Public input has been essential to getting this right”, says Mr. Foxx.

Despite concerns the development of self-driving cars is moving too fast, the Federal government remains largely in favor of the technology.

The regulator said it wants to explore whether automakers should be required to submit technology to regulators for approval before they are offered for sale in a process similar to that used by the Federal Aviation Administration with aircraft. The full guidelines can be read on the DOT’s website.

In an op-ed published Monday night in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaObama vows self-driving cars will be safe Pence: Clinton, Obama have “narrative of denial” on terror Feds set to unveil self-driving vehicle guidelines MORE wrote about the new guidelines. Less congested, less polluted roads. “We’re determined to help the private sector get this technology right from the start”, the president wrote. By complying with the assessment, carmakers and developers can “bring lifesaving technologies to the roads safely while providing innovators the space they need to develop new solutions”.