DOT to Unveil Revised Self-driving Car Guidelines in Summer

Recent comments by U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao suggest that the Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to unveil update self-driving car guidelines this summer.

At a recent Detroit auto meeting, Chao said that the modified, voluntary guidelines would address self-driving automobiles and “barriers to the safe integration of autonomous technology for motor carriers, transit, trucks, infrastructure and other modes.”

According to Reuters, the DOT was preparing for autonomous technology coming rapidly to all transportation modes. “The technology is there, the question is how do we regulate it, how do we continue to promote innovation but also safeguard safety.” Chao said.

The pursuit of self-driving cars is intense as players ranging form GM, Alphabet Inc, Toyota Motor Corp, Google and others are aggressively moving forward and want Congress to remove barriers to the vehicles.

Of note, bills currently in Congress to speed the introduction of self-driving cars do not include commercial trucks.

Chao said her goal was to eliminate “unnecessary obstacles to the development and integration of new technology. Our approach will be tech-neutral and flexible — not top-down, or command and control.” She added the government would “not be in the business of picking winners or losers, or favoring one form of technology over another.”

In October, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, said it was looking for input on how to remove regulatory roadblocks to self-driving cars.

Category: Featured, General Update, News