US updates autonomous legislation

New legislation has been introduced in the US that for the first time directly addresses the safety of occupants in automated vehicles.

The US Department for Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has updated its Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to incorporate vehicles with automated driving systems.

Dr Steven Cliff, NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator, said, “As the driver changes from a person to a machine in Autonomous Driving Systems (ADS)-equipped vehicles, the need to keep the humans safe remains the same and must be integrated from the beginning. With this rule, we ensure that manufacturers put safety first.”

The rule clarifies the standards vehicle manufacturers have to meet when developing vehicles with autonomous capabilities, emphasising that the high level of occupant safety provided to traditional vehicles must be maintained in vehicles with ADS technology fitted.

The NHTSA will monitor and oversee the testing of vehicles with self-driving capabilities, prioritising safety across a multitude of areas including data collection, human behaviour, legislation and enforcement.