Op-Ed: AVIA Announces "Securing American Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles"
Originally Published in RealClearPolicy
By Jeff Farrah, AVIA CEO
The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) is thrilled to release Securing American Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles. The policy framework includes exciting proposals to advance American AV leadership at a critical juncture and usher in the technology’s economic, safety, supply chain, and accessibility benefits. Securing American Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles will advance and expand upon the Framework for Automated Driving System Safety, first begun in 2020.
Currently, the United States stands as the global leader in developing and deploying autonomous vehicles (AVs). From enhancing road safety to bolstering supply chains and economic output, AVs have already begun delivering transformative benefits. Yet, as autonomous technology is deployed, the AVs face significant challenges due to federal inaction. Now is the time for the federal government to take action to put in place a federal policy framework that supports the advancement of autonomous vehicles.
As federal government activity on AVs has stalled in recent years, two trends have emerged:
- States taking the lead: In recent years, U.S. states have taken the lead on AV policy. Twenty-five states, covering 56% of the U.S. population, have enacted AV deployment statutes. State-level interest in AVs is welcome but states are limited in the regulatory matters they can address. Only the federal government can uniformly regulate the design, construction, and performance of the vehicle.
- Global Competition: Strategic competitors, particularly China, have intensified their efforts to dominate the AV industry. Supported by proactive government policies, China’s advancements threaten America’s leadership. To secure its position, the U.S. must implement a federal policy framework that fosters innovation and deployment.
To address these challenges, the AV industry has developed Securing American Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles. The recommendations are concrete actions that should be taken by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congress to support autonomous deployment. The proposal is organized to advance five key areas:
- Safety, Transparency, and Accountability
- Advancing American Leadership on AVs
- Supporting Supply Chain Resiliency Through Autonomous Trucking
- Enhancing Resources for Safety Regulators
- Protecting National Security While Promoting AV Leadership
Securing American Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles includes bold policy ideas such as:
- A call for congressional action or rulemaking by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on a core set of Autonomous Driving System (ADS) behavioral competency tests.
- Creation of a National AV Safety Depository to include data about AV incidents and provide visibility to state transportation regulatory agencies.
- Congressional action or a rulemaking to clarify that requirements for manually operated driving controls and certain indicators and telltales are not applicable to autonomous vehicles.
- Advancement of autonomous trucking through codification of a 2018 interpretation that a human driver need not be present in an autonomous commercial motor vehicle.
- Supporting roadway safety by moving forward on a stakeholder-embraced proposal to use cab-mounted beacons to indicate when an autonomous CMV is on the side of a road.
- Promote domestic manufacturing of sensors through a grant program or other mechanism.
- Congressional passage of the AV Accessibility Act to support people with disabilities as they use autonomous vehicles.
Autonomous vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for the United States to lead the next era of mobility. However, the AV industry needs federal action and the moment is now. By advancing Securing America’s Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles, policymakers can create a cohesive national strategy that promotes innovation, ensures safety, and secures national security. Together, we can pave the way for safer roads, stronger supply chains, and a more accessible and innovative transportation system.