Autonomous Vehicle Industry Unveils Policy Recommendations for Congress and USDOT

AVIA outlines concrete steps federal policymakers can take to secure safety, mobility & economic benefits for Americans

Washington, D.C. - The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) unveiled its federal policy recommendations for unlocking the full capacity of autonomous vehicles’ safety, mobility, and economic opportunities for Americans. The framework outlines concrete recommendations for Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to maximize the deployment and commercialization of safe autonomous technology across the United States. 

AVIA convened its members, the leading AV companies in the world, to identify a comprehensive set of policies to encourage the growth and development of the AV industry. This is the first recommended federal framework that includes all modes of autonomous vehicles (AVs), including zero-occupancy delivery vehicles, trucks and passenger cars. The recommendations include both steps that USDOT should take and the necessary components of federal legislation that will support the safe and expeditious advancement of AVs in the U.S.

“AVs are testing and operating in states around the country, bringing people and goods to where they need to go. America is currently the leader in AV technology, but other countries are surging forward. It is time for the U.S. to solidify our leadership, and these policy recommendations will expand opportunities for AVs to increase road safety, create new mobility options, and support economic growth and new jobs,” said Jeff Farrah, Executive Director of AVIA.

AVIA outlined these recommendations in letters to Congressional leaders and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The framework serves as a resource for all federal policymakers.

To open a path for the safe deployment and commercialization of AVs, Congress should enact Federal legislation that:

• Supports U.S. innovation in AVs with a clear federal framework that outlines necessary statutory and regulatory elements critical to the AV industry

• Recognizes the importance of positive AV policy in maintaining the United States's position as an innovation policy leader in the world

• Encompasses all vehicle types

• Reforms and expands the vehicle exemption process

• Expands AV testing and evaluation 

• Directs NHTSA to complete Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) rulemakings

• Codifies preclusion of “make-inoperative” provision for dual use vehicles

• Codifies FMCSA interpretation that FMCSRs do not require a human driver

• Preserves the federal role in regulating motor vehicles and interstate motor carrier activity

• Expands access to mobility by not requiring a driver’s license to be a passenger in an AV

• Protects confidential information

• Studies the economic, access, and equity impacts of AVs

• Studies and encourages the development of the AV industry workforce

To advance AVs, AVIA encourages USDOT to: 

• Update regulations to support AV deployment

• Accelerate the path for novel design vehicles

• Complete the final rule on safe integration of ADS in commercial motor vehicles

• Promote AV safety by developing technical standards, conducting research, convening the industry to establish common approaches, and fully leveraging existing data collections to inform future regulatory approaches to AV safety

• Preserve foreign market access via active engagement with other governments and international bodies 

As the unified voice of the AV industry, AVIA is committed to working with federal policymakers to see these policies come to fruition. View the full report here.

About the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA)

AVIA works with lawmakers, regulators, and the public to realize the safety and societal benefits of autonomous vehicles. As the unified voice of the AV industry, the association is comprised of companies with diverse technical expertise and experience in the technology, automobile, ridehail, trucking, and logistics sectors. Bringing together their varied backgrounds, the companies formed AVIA to advance AVs’ tremendous safety, mobility and economic benefits to consumers in the safest and swiftest manner possible.