The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) sent a letter on Sept. 5 to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) urging Congress to pass the AV START Act to increase vehicle safety.
A Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act (AV START Act), S. 1885, clearly defines federal and state roles regarding highly automated vehicles. The bill would create federal regulation while protecting against state regulations that could stifle innovation, job growth, and technological development to improve safety, MEMA said.
The legislation also would strengthen oversight by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and establishes a Vehicle Data Access Advisory Committee.
“Development and eventual deployment of highly automated vehicle technologies will expand mobility options for persons with disabilities, seniors, and those who require access to more affordable transportation,” the letter said. “Also, significant decreases in collisions will mean fewer roadway backups − reducing congestion and vehicle emissions − and diminish overall societal costs.”
In 2016, there were more than 37,000 fatalities and more than 3.1 million injuries on U.S. roadways, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Recent data show more than 94 percent of accidents were the result of human error.
“The AV START Act represents an historic opportunity for Congress to establish a regulatory framework to advance these groundbreaking technologies while supporting research and investment in the United States,” said the letter, which was signed by Ann Wilson, senior vice president at MEMA.
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously advanced the bill in October 2017. Earlier this year the House of Representatives unanimously passed the SELF DRIVE Act, the House version of the AV START Act.