The Federal Government issued a statement that self-driving vehicles should be on the road quick. They said that the development of these cars will fast track the policies regarding these cars and possibly waive regulations to aide in the progress.
Secretary Anthony Foxx of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representatives from F General Motors, Ford, Google and Tesla reiterated that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will develop guidance for automakers on what's expected of self-driving prototype cars and the different type of test to ensure the public's safety as reported by ABCnews. The said agency will also create a model policy for states to follow if they decide to allow these cars on their road. The department hopes that these policies will lead to consistent national regulations for these cars.
According to the Bigstory, the U.S government firmly believes that self-driving vehicles are the future of car manufacturing. It would cut traffic deaths, decrease highway congestion and even improve the environment according to Foxx. He even encouraged the manufacturers to come to the government if assistance is needed to fast track its development.
A law professor at the University of Carolina, Bryant Walker Smith said that the government's action is aggressive and ambitious. He said that it is following the steps of Europe. Which has exempted autonomous cars from certain regulation to speed its development. On the other hand, safety advocates wonder if these agencies are getting too comfortable with the new technology. Joan Claybrook, Administrator of NHTSA said that the DOT should be knowledgeable about these new technologies and should independently develop its own data and information. Secretary Brian Kelly of the California Transportation said that it welcomes and encourages NHTSA to work together and encourage innovation as reported by the Sandiegouniontribune.
The said budget by President Barrack Obamas is $4 billion over the next decade, dedicated for programs involving these technologies. Foxx said that some vehicles available today can already communicate with each other, with traffic lights or stop lights through various cellphone signals. Eventually, this will be helpful in preventing accidents by warning each other before a crash occurs.
