America’s Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is welcoming the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Federal role in providing oversight and guidance to States, in relation to self-driving, with a “smart approach” in avoiding a patchwork of local laws which might impede technology development.
CTA’s comments support the aspects of the NHTSA policy that promote innovation and set clear, rational “rules of the road” for vehicle testing and development, including:
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. Clarification of State and Federal responsibilities with respect to automated vehicles;
. NHTSA’s call for clear and consistent state laws and regulations that do not impinge on the agency’s authority with respect to vehicle safety and performance; and
.NHTSA’s commitment to use its regulatory tools to facilitate the development, adoption and mass deployment of self-driving vehicles, as well as the agency’s proposal to expand its statutory exemption authority.
“Keeping pace with consumer expectations requires a balanced framework that recognises the important roles that technology development plays in advancing safety,” said CTA president and CEO, Gary Shapiro. “With the appropriate regulatory framework in place, and properly balanced between states and the federal government, we can dramatically reduce crashes caused by human error and eliminate 90% of traffic fatalities.
“We need uniformity across state lines and rules that keep pace with technological progress to make sure life-saving innovations can be tested and deployed quickly.”
However, CTA is concerned about NHTSA’s suggestion of the possible introduction of pre-market approval for highly-automated vehicles.
CTA also questions the application of NHTSA’s Vehicle Performance Guidance to “less-automated” vehicles (for example, SAE levels L1-L2), as well the policy’s data sharing recommendations and discussion of possible post-sale authority to regulate software updates, among other provisions.
CTA research shows US consumers are eager to experience these benefits: 62% of US consumers are interested in replacing their current cars or trucks with self-driving vehicles and 70% have a strong interest in test driving one, according to the study CTA Self-Driving Vehicles: Consumer Sentiments.
