Multiple organizations advocating for Americans with disabilities have released statements supporting the American Vision for Safer Transportation Through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies (AV START) Act, which establishes guidelines for autonomous vehicle safety.
“We urge the committee to promptly move this bill through its process to expedite the Senate’s passage of this important and transformative legislation,” Helena Berger, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, said. “People with disabilities suffer greatly from a lack of reliable and accessible transportation options. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to transform how Americans, with and without disabilities, move about their communities.”
Other organizations releasing statements include National Federation of the Blind, the National Council on Disability, the National Association of the Deaf, the National Cued Speech Association, and the 60 Plus Association.
The organizations all acknowledge that autonomous vehicles can improve the lives of the disabled and are urging Congress to pass the bill.
“The potential to save lives by reducing automobile accidents due to human error creates an extraordinarily compelling motive for public policy to embrace the use of these vehicles on public roads,” Berger said. “In doing so, people with disabilities must be able to enjoy these safety benefits along with the increased mobility that comes with this innovation.”