“We are on the cusp of a new era in automotive technology with enormous potential to save lives, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and transform mobility for the American people,” said US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
This prophetic statement was made January 14, 2016, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where the Transportation Secretary also announced a new 10 year, $4 billion plan for pilot programs to test connected vehicle systems across the country. This budget proposal for FY17 would mark the federal government’s first major involvement in the relatively new field of autonomously driven consumer vehicles.
Under the new program, the US federal government would work with industry leaders, such as Ford, Tesla, Google, Delphi, and others, to ensure a common national regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles. Several major automotive manufacturers, along with technology companies Google and Delphi, have already begun testing autonomous cars on public roads in California and Nevada.
In his statement, Secretary Foxx also released details of an updated policy statement on autonomous vehicles, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Although the government’s new self-driving vehicle initiative covers a 10 year period, specific goals were also set for 2016. NHTSA will immediately begin developing a common understanding with stakeholders in the new autonomous vehicle industry, with a view towards formulating a common model national policy. Within 6 months, the NHSTA plans to begin work with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and a variety of state agencies.
Manufacturers are also encouraged to submit rule interpretation requests that involve the new autonomous technology, and both the DOT and NHTSA will develop new tools with a view towards a new era of autonomous vehicle safety and mobility.
Autonomous vehicles will obviously provide new levels of convenience in personal transportation, yet safety is also a major driving force for the federal government’s involvement. Each year, over 30,000 people are killed in automotive traffic accidents in the USA. Automated driving technology, whether assistive or completely self-driving, promises to vastly reduce this death toll.
Secretary Foxx emphasized safety, when he stated: ““Today’s actions and those we will pursue in the coming months will provide the foundation and the path forward for manufacturers, state officials, and consumers to use new technologies and achieve their full safety potential.”
The new government program to participate in auton vehicle development is still in its early stage, and the Transportation Dept. has announced that further details of the plan will be forthcoming.
The 2016 North American International Auto Show is being held in Detroit, from January 6-24. Public access dates are January 16-24, 2016.