The new regulation could allow autonomous driving tech to kick off in the US.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing an alternative regulatory route to accelerate the development of autonomous driving. The “AV STEP” allows companies to deploy more self-driving vehicles, like the GM Cruise-based Chevrolet Bolt, on public roads.
This report comes from Automotive News, which gathered information from a top federal safety official. The program will be fully outlined this fall, but experts say it will be significantly higher than the current 2,500-vehicle limited per car brand.
Note that the current system is a complicated process that many companies like General Motors and Ford have complained about. The new proposal might address these companies' concerns regarding self-driving car deployments.
For those unaware, the NHTSA limits the number of these autonomous rides on the road for various reasons, including safety. In March, GM wanted to deploy en masse the Cruise Origin, a self-driving taxi without steering wheels, side mirrors, etc. Previously, lawmakers were understandably hesitant to give the American car maker the go-ahead for its self-driving taxi, but the upcoming AV STEP ruling might finally allow for that.
There is, however, a considerable catch regarding this new regulatory path of self-driving cars. Specifically, the safety-focused government agency wants car companies to share data in return for widespread self-driving car deployments.
The latter will enable the agency to strengthen its knowledge base regarding these highly advanced mobility technologies. These data might even be useful for the government in making laws in the future. We won't be surprised that some companies might protest that data-sharing clause.
In general, autonomous driving still has a long way to go. For one thing, the AV STEP is merely a stop-gap measure and a full permanent regulation for self-driving cars will necessitate a change in motor vehicle safety standards from a federal level. This, of course, will take ages.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, a hotbed for AV development, there has been pushback from activists against autonomous cars flooding the streets, with many calling on members of the public to participate in 'coning' – putting a traffic cone on the hood of an autonomous car, making it stop in its tracks until the obstacle is removed.
These protesters argue that the congestion caused by autonomous cars when they malfunction – as has been observed on several occasions – adds stress to the lives of those who live in cities where they are tested. Creating more congestion seems like a bit of a backwards way of protesting this, but it's clear that many Americans remain skeptical of self-driving technology.
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Keyword: Feds Rallying For More Self-Driving Cars While Public Fight Back With Street Cones