NHTSA Relaxes Autonomous Vehicle Regulations

The fully autonomous vehicle market is one that has been slow to develop, largely due to safety concerns, but we are starting to see a steady ramp up in terms of robotaxis, at least. Ford largely gave up on full autonomy some time ago as it focuses on less-involved tech, but it’s still mulling a competitor in that space, which Waymo currently dominates. In the meantime, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been kicking around the idea of making some major changes to regulations revolving around autonomous vehicles, and now, it has done precisely that.

As Ford Authority previously reported, the NHTSA recently proposed creating a national framework for autonomous vehicles called the ADS-equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation Program (AV STEP), which is designed to promote greater transparency into participating ADS operations and help the agency study and oversee ADS technology as it matures. That program was quickly endorsed by the Ford-backed lobby group known as the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI), too.

Now, the NHTSA has officially unveiled its new Automated Vehicle (AV) Framework, which is centered around three main principles – prioritizing the safety of ongoing AV operations on public roads, unleashing innovation by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers, and enabling the commercial deployment of AVs to enhance safety and mobility for the American public.

To prioritize safety, the NHTSA is maintaining its Standing General Order on Crash Reporting for vehicles equipped with certain advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving systems (ADS) while also streamlining reporting to sharpen its focus on critical safety information while removing what it calls “unnecessary and duplicative requirements.” The Automated Vehicle Exemption Program (AVEP) will now include domestically produced vehicles in addition to just imported AVs, too.

“By streamlining the SGO for Crash Reporting and expanding an existing exemption program to domestic vehicles, we are enabling AV manufacturers to develop faster and spend less time on unnecessary process, while still advancing safety,” said NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser. “These are the first steps toward making America a more welcoming environment for the next generation of automotive technology.”