New guidance on automated vehicles

The US administration has turned its attention to the regulations governing the use of automated and driverless vehicles, with the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issuing new federal guidance.

Automated Driving Systems (ADS): A Vision for Safety 2.0. is the latest set of guidance for automated driving systems for use by industry and individual US states. It replaces previous regulations and offers a more flexible approach to advancing the innovation of automated vehicle safety technologies.

“The new guidance supports further development of this important new technology, which has the potential to change the way we travel and how we deliver goods and services,” said US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. “The safe deployment of automated vehicle technologies means we can look forward to a future with fewer traffic fatalities and increased mobility for all Americans.”

A Vision for Safety 2.0 calls for industry, state and local governments, safety and mobility advocates and the public to lay the path for the deployment of automated vehicles and technologies.

“In addition to safety, ADS technology offers important social benefits by improving access to transportation, independence and quality of life for those who cannot drive because of illness, advanced age or disability,” Chao continued.

A Vision for Safety 2.0 builds on the previous policy and incorporates feedback received through public comments and Congressional hearings. NHTSA said it paves the way for the safe deployment of advanced driver assistance technologies by providing voluntary guidance that encourages best practices and prioritizes safety. The document also provides technical assistance to states and best practices for policymakers.

Specifically, the new voluntary guidance focuses on SAE International Levels of Automation 3-5 for ADS – conditional, high, and full automation.

It clarifies the guidance process and that entities do not need to wait to test or deploy their ADSs, and also revises what NHTSA calls “unnecessary design elements” from the safety self-assessment.

In addition, the new release aligns federal guidance with the latest developments and industry terminology and clarifies federal and state roles going forward.

Chao said that as automated technologies advance, so will the Department’s guidance. It is intended to be flexible and to evolve as technology does. In fact, DOT and NHTSA are already planning for 3.0.

The guidance and more information on automated vehicles can be found at nhtsa.gov/av.