Federal transportation officials are reportedly considering a pilot program that would allow fully autonomous vehicles to hit U.S. roads sooner than expected.
A document released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated the agency could work with states and cities to develop a program to test a limited number of completely self-driving vehicles on open highways, Reuters reported.
The test vehicles could be required to include technology that prohibits excessive speeds or halts the vehicle if its systems malfunction, the document said. The NHTSA is also weighing disclosure requirements for accidents or near-accidents involving the vehicles.
The agency hopes data from the pilot program would allow officials to craft appropriate safety regulations and “foster the safe introduction of vehicles with high and full-driving automation.”
Automakers, tech giants, and other proponents argue current regulatory framework for vehicles can’t accommodate rapidly advancing autonomous technologies. Although backers contend self-driving technology would make roads far safer, Reuters noted legislation to adjust those current rules stalled in Congress amid opposition from some safety advocates.
Numerous companies and startups have tested vehicles with autonomous capabilities over millions of miles to date, but those cars generally included a human driver that could take control in case of emergency.
Google spinoff Waymo and General Motors hope to deploy self-driving ridesharing services in the coming months — the latter under a proposed waiver from current federal rules.
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