Autonomous cars offer a long list of potential benefits and stand to change things that most people take for granted, from hailing a cab to ordering a food delivery. However, there are also risks to expanding the number of driverless cars on the road, including real safety concerns. These concerns were only increased when an autonomous car that was being tested by Uber in Tempe, AZ killed a pedestrian. Where do the safety standards for autonomous vehicles stand? Here is what you need to know.
A Push for Federal Regulation
There is a push by automotive lobbies and congressional representatives from states with large auto industries to set federal safety standards for autonomous vehicles. Currently, autonomous vehicles are subject to the safety standards of the states in which they are operating. Developers of autonomous technologies say that this approach hinders research, while others believe that the states should have the freedom to set the rules of the road for autonomous, as they do for drivers. The major concern about setting federal regulations is that the federal rules would relax the guidelines under which autonomous cars are now forced to operate and make them even more prone to safety issues. A bill supporting legislation to establish federal rules called the AV Start Act has been approved by the House and is before the Senate.
Safety Standards by State
Currently, safety standards vary greatly. In Florida, autonomous cars can operate without any driver in the car legally. Arizona has very few limitations, which is why so many cars are testing on the state’s roads. In California, safety standards apply to autonomous cars, including requiring the company testing them to report any accidents and incidents in which the autonomous feature disengaged while the car was in motion.
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