WASHINGTON — The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association on Wednesday launched a U.S. coverage framework outlining key priorities for federal AV laws and regulation.
The group’s framework contains a number of suggestions for Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation to steer federal motion and advance the deployment and commercialization of AVs throughout the U.S.
“AVs are testing and operating in states around the country, bringing people and goods to where they need to go. America is currently the leader in AV technology, but other countries are surging forward,” mentioned Jeff Farrah, govt director of the commerce affiliation, whose members embody Aurora, Cruise, Ford, Volkswagen, Waymo and Zoox.
“It is time for the U.S. to solidify our leadership,” he continued, “and these policy recommendations will expand opportunities for AVs to increase road safety, create new mobility options and support economic growth and new jobs.”
The group mentioned it’s the first really useful federal framework that covers all modes of AVs, together with supply automobiles, vans and passenger vehicles.
In separate letters despatched Wednesday to Democratic and Republican lawmakers and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the group urged Congress to enact federal AV laws and pressed Buttigieg to advance the protection advantages of AVs by means of administrative and regulatory actions.
Specifically, the group desires Congress to cross laws that:
- Reforms the exemption course of for automobiles that don’t adjust to all federal rules.
- Directs NHTSA to finish rule-makings that modernize sure car rules to assist the deployment of AVs and AV know-how.
- Modernizes car legal guidelines to accommodate autonomous operation.
- Preserves present federal company roles associated to car regulation, together with NHTSA’s authority in regulating the design, building and efficiency of automobiles.
- Blocks any authorities coverage, laws or regulation that might require people to acquire a license to be a passenger in an AV.
For the Transportation Department, the group’s suggestions embody updating sure NHTSA and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules, establishing a nationwide AV demonstration and deployment program and interesting with different governments and worldwide our bodies on AV policymaking.
Federal legislative makes an attempt beforehand have stalled in Congress, with lawmakers typically supportive of a federal framework however divided over varied authorized and client issues.
Meanwhile, NHTSA doesn’t preapprove or prohibit the introduction of latest automobiles or know-how so long as they adjust to motorcar security requirements. Vehicles that don’t comply can nonetheless be deployed however should first apply for an exemption.
Ford Motor Co. and General Motors’ self-driving unit Cruise each have requested exemptions and are awaiting NHTSA approval to deploy as much as 2,500 AVs with out conventional driving controls or options.
In 2020, NHTSA granted its first-ever exemption petition permitting restricted deployment of automated driving programs to Nuro Inc.
Source: www.autonews.com