Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Announces Updated Guidance for Automated Vehicles

Sep 12, 2017 | Bad Credit Loans, Bank Lending, Business Loans, Finance, Working Capital

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Announces Updated Guidance for Automated Vehicles

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Sept. 8 unveiled updated federal guidance for automated driving systems for industry and states that want to deploy self-driving vehicles.

The updated guidance, “A Vision for Safety 2.0,” builds on the previous policy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and incorporates feedback received through public comments and congressional hearings,” according to a Department of Transportation statement.

The agency said the updated guidance that replaces guidance issued in September 2016 paves the way for the safe deployment of advanced driver-assistance technologies by providing voluntary guidance that encourages best practices and prioritizes safety, as well as technical assistance to states and best practices for policymakers.

The guidance is in alignment with legislation pending in Congress, Chao said.

“As you know so well, our country is on the verge of one of the most exciting and important innovations in transportation history, the development of the automated driving systems — ADS — commonly referred to as automated or self-driving vehicles,” Chao said in a speech from the University of Michigan.

she said the new technologies not only will potentially reduce fatal and injury crashes but also cut down on commuting times for drivers and offer a chance for the disabled and elderly to travel on the open road.

“NHTSA research shows that about 94% of serious crashes are caused, unfortunately, by human error,” Chao said. “Automated driving systems hold the promise of significantly reducing these errors and saving tens of thousands of lives in the process.”

Chao said the updated guidance encourages new entrants and ideas that deliver safer vehicles, makes DOT processes more nimble by creating a flexible framework to help match the pace of private sector innovation and supports industry innovation. It also encourages open communication with the public and stakeholders, and identifies best practices nationwide and technical assistance to state legislatures.

DOT said specifically, the new voluntary guidance:

• Focuses on Society of Engineers International Levels of Automation 3-5 – Automated Driving Systems

• Clarifies the guidance process and that entities do not need to wait to test or deploy their ADS

• Revises unnecessary design elements from the safety self-assessment

• Aligns federal guidance with the latest developments and industry terminology

• Clarifies federal and state roles going forward.