Increasing Transparency of Automated Driving Tests
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently launched an online tool now available to the public that is intended to increase testing transparency and improve the safety of automated driving systems, also known as self-driving cars. The new tool tracks data for on-road testing of automated driving systems within 17 cities in the United States. The tool expands the information that is publicly available about these types of vehicles, including their safety performance and location of on-road testing sites. The goal is to increase public understanding of the automated systems. The tool is available here.
Federal Oversight of Online Platform
The online tool is part of an initiative entitled Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing (AV TEST), which U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao introduced in June 2020. The AV TEST Initiative is being overseen by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The recent launch event of the online tool included remarks from several U.S. Representatives. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transporation Policy also held a panel discussion regarding the testing of automated driving systems in rural communities. Another panel was held on the topic of first responders and automated vehicle systems.
Information Available on the Platform
The online public platform is designed to allow the sharing of test activities related to automated driving systems. It will also provide other safety information on the same topic with the public. The platform will include online map tools that are intended to show local, state, and national test locations, along with testing activity data such as routes, dates, and vehicle counts. The tool currently has on-road testing data in 17 American cities, including:
- San Francisco
- Austin
- Dallas
- Columbus
- Denver
- Phoenix
- Jacksonville
- Pittsburgh
- Orlando
- Washington D.C.
- Salt Lake City
The online platform is a voluntary pilot program. Nine states and ten companies have signed on, with more expected.
Increasing Public Understanding of Self-Driving Technology
NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator explains that the goal of the platform is to provide more information to the public about the testing of automated driving systems in order to foster more understanding about the development of the “promising technology” – its potential as well as its limitations. These automated driving systems are not yet approved for public sale, but the technology is evolving rapidly and it is almost a foregone conclusion that they soon will be. Given that, this voluntary partnership between the federal government, the states, and the self-driving vehicle industry will be able to get information to the public efficiently and quickly. The intention is to work with the nature of the competitive marketplace, where non-regulatory systems have effectively advanced vehicle safety. The NHTSA pointed to the insurance industry’s Five-Star Safety Ratings as an example of that phenomenon.
The online tracking tool is soon to be available to all parties with a stake in the testing and safe development of vehicles using automated driving systems. At local and state levels, participants are likely to include departments of highway safety, departments of motor vehicles, and city governments. Also likely to participate are developers, suppliers, manufacturers, and testers within the automotive industry.
Watch the YouTube video from CBS This Morning on Uber’s self-driving vehicle testing facility.
Lincoln, California Personal Injury Lawyer
Thank you for reading – I’m Ed Smith, a Lincoln personal injury lawyer. Automated driving systems will, unfortunately, not be the end of all auto accidents. Additionally, until they are widely available, the rates of automobile accidents will remain steady as there is no way to eliminate human error. If you or a family member have been injured in an accident due to another driver’s negligence, I am happy to provide free and friendly advice. Reach out to us at (916) 921-6400, or if you are calling from outside the region: (800) 404-5400. We also offer an online contact form.
Click the links below to learn more about our firm, including what past clients have to say about our services and the results of some of our prior cases.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/robot-vehicle-2676510/
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