In response to the ongoing development of autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies and in anticipation of continued AV testing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to obtain public comments on the design of a national pilot program that will enable the agency to monitor current AV technologies and assess the potential safety impacts on road users.
SAFE believes this pilot is an opportunity for a productive collaboration between the government and participating entities to foster regulatory innovation, and has prepared a comprehensive response to the DOT ANPRM. In particular, SAFE believes there are several short-term policy issues that could benefit from additional regulatory development. These include:
- Clarity on the process and standards for approving or denying exemptions for all vehicle types and AV services will make it easier for industry and public advocates to build the future
mobility industry. - Allowing the public and interested stakeholders visibility into standards development would encourage useful feedback and assist in long-term planning.
