The world of transportation is on the cusp of a revolutionary transformation, and at the heart of this change lie autonomous vehicles (AVs). These cutting-edge technologies promise to reshape our roads, enhance safety, and revolutionize the way we move. This week, the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee held a crucial hearing to discuss the future of AVs, and AUVSI believe it is a step in the right direction. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why we should wholeheartedly support federal AV framework legislation and embrace the possibilities AVs hold for a brighter, more efficient, and safer tomorrow.
 
On Wednesday July 26^th, 2023 the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce held a hearing entitled “Self-Driving Vehicle Legislative Framework: Enhancing Safety, Improving Lives And Mobility, And Beating China.”  
 
The hearing emphasized the need for immediate progress in federal regulations related to the safe integration of AV technology on American roadways. 
 
By The Numbers 
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) traffic fatalities report, 2021 saw the number of fatalities in road accidents reach a 16-year peak at 42,915. Fatalities were only slightly lower in 2022, with fatality an estimated 42,795 road accident-related deaths. Almost all of the fatalities (approximately 98%) were caused by the same factor: Human error. 
 
The Solution 
Federal support of the safe integration of automated vehicles across our nation. In the short term, Congress must introduce legislation that protects American innovation and maintains our edge in building standards for the widespread deployment of AV’s across the country.  
 
The introduction of legislation in Congress is an important forcing mechanism for federal standards on all AV technology and is critical in the larger education campaign. The most productive way forward towards safer streets in our country is showing the public the measures taken to build trust in the testing and evaluation of technology and the results industry has already demonstrated.  
 
An Industry Need 
As this hearing highlighted, the United States must maintain a large competitive edge over other counties already integrating AV’s on their roads. Specifically, we cannot rely on China to set standards for technology. The stakes involved in allowing our roadways to be susceptible to data breaches, cyber risks, and a more powerful China are too great for us to continue putting off federal legislation that would lower fatality rates, charge our country forward as the innovators we have always been, and bolster industry ready safe, sustainable, and revolutionary technologies- all for the benefit of every road user across the nation.  
 
Without a larger federal framework, states have introduced and will continue to introduce “patchwork” solutions to the integration of AV’s within their borders. Without backing from the highest echelons of our government, we stand to lose out on setting standards meant to keep us all safe. A federal framework for AV technology is a critical next step towards safer roads in America. In addition to the importance of maintaining a competitive edge against China, a federal framework ensures basic standards for AV technology that will inevitably lead to the growth of innovation integral to economic growth in the transportation space. More importantly, this framework would ensure the safety of all Americans.  
 
AUVSI applauds Chairman Bilirakis, Ranking Member Schakowsky, Chair McMorris Rodgers, Ranking Member Pallone, and distinguished members of the Committee, including Congresswoman Dingell, for conducting this hearing, and we look forward to working with Congress as they move forward in establishing a federal regulatory framework for AV’s. We fully support the safe integration of AV technology, backed by American leadership, on our roadways, with all of us in mind.