A group of U.S. senators recently sent a letter to Sophie Shulman, acting National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) administrator, urging the agency to be proactive and take more aggressive action to address the safety concerns regarding partially automated and fully automated driving systems.
The letter is in response to several high-profile crashes involving partially automated or automated driving systems. NHTSA began investigations, but has not taken further steps.
The letter urges several policy actions.
Partially automated and automated driving systems are designed for certain road environments, yet some manufacturers allow the systems to be used anywhere. The lawmakers urge NHTSA to restrict driving systems to the roads for whom they are designed.
Confusing marketing can mislead drivers to think partially automated driving systems are automated driving systems. The lawmakers urge NHTSA to investigate these marketing practices.
Automakers are required to provide the NHTSA crash data for certain crashes. The lawmakers urge NHTSA to require more robust data collection.
The only standard partially automated and automated driving systems must meet are the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The lawmakers urge NHTSA to consider standards to make autonomous vehicles safer.
Many automated driving systems rely on remote assistance operators. The lawmakers urge NHTSA to regulate remote assistance operators.