U.S. Ready to Waive Certain Rules to Accelerate Driverless Car Tech
Government will invest $4 billion over the next 10 years.
So far, a concrete set of regulations surrounding driverless cars has remained elusive. But that soon may change. U.S. regulators announced today they will create national guidelines for self-driving cars and will invest $4 billion to accelerate their development over the next 10 years.
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"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 Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a statement. "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 plan specifies major goals that could make life much easier for makers of driverless car technologies. The government will allow automakers to request an exemption from existing rules in an attempt to accelerate the development of new safety technologies for autonomous cars. Up to 2,500 vehicles that otherwise would not have been able to operate under current laws could be approved for U.S. roads for up to two years. Although the exemption policy remains a bit unclear, the government noted BMW's remote-controlled parking system as an example of this rule-bending.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Authority says it will consult with automakers to develop guidelines for autonomous vehicles within the next six months. Over the course of 2016, the agency may decide to appoint authorities specifically for the purpose of promoting the safe rollout of autonomous vehicles. And that's "including [autonomous cars] designed without a human driver in mind," NHTSA adds.
The move is an interesting follow-up to recent rumblings that California was looking to ban driverless cars without a human driver. Google complained on that matter, although Tesla CEO Elon Musk approved of the proposed decision.
Source: NHTSA, The Wall Street Journal
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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