State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

Safety Advocates Say Not So Fast on Driverless Cars

Government Technology: Highway safety advocates are urging lawmakers to pump the brakes on the development of driverless cars.

The group, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, is calling on Congress and federal officials to strengthen safety regulations related to autonomous vehicle technology following the release of a public opinion poll, which shows that Americans –regardless of age, political preferences or geographic locations – want increased safeguards.

“It is critical that the U.S. Department of Transportation implement a statutory mandate and issue vehicle safety standards for autonomous cars,” said Joan Claybrook, a former administrator with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration for the Carter Administration, in a conference call with reporters Jan. 12. “The last thing the public wants is to have DOT standing on the sidelines, allowing auto and tech companies to build and sell cars that have new technologies that do not have to meet minimum government requirements.

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