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Congress Debates Future of Self-Driving Cars
11 Feb
Summary
- Legislation aims to create national safety standards for autonomous vehicles.
- Bill seeks to override state-level restrictions on developing AV technology.
- NHTSA will govern federal safety standards required by September 2027.
Lawmakers are advancing legislation to establish a national framework for autonomous vehicles. The SELF DRIVE Act, sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta, recently passed committee, aiming to create consistent federal safety standards. This would preempt differing state-level regulations on the rapidly evolving technology.
The proposed act mandates the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish these federal safety standards by September 2027. It also seeks to standardize definitions for autonomous driving and its various levels.
Furthermore, the bill permits limited testing of automated driving features in commercial vehicles. Companies like Waymo already operate self-driving fleets in several U.S. cities, highlighting the accelerating pace of AV deployment.
Proponents argue a unified national approach will foster innovation, create jobs, and position the U.S. as a global leader in AV development, especially in competition with China. Tesla and Honda have expressed support for the legislation.
