Autonomous Vehicle News
Executives from groups that represent consumers and unionized workers on Tuesday pressed members of Congress to prioritize vehicle safety and workers' needs in any effort to develop a federal framework for autonomous vehicles and other forward-looking technologies. Specifically, the consumer advocacy group recommends a four-pronged approach to existing and future vehicle technologies. That approach includes mandatory performance standards for advanced driver-assist systems, data collection, operational safety standards that can be verified by a third party as well as cybersecurity standards, updated occupant protection standards and other standards to protect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. "Following a voluntary standard model for AVs is a fool's errand," Levine said in his testimony. "Industry voluntary standards — created for commercial purposes — can be a nice benchmark but can also be easily ignored or subverted at any time by any participant."