Autonomous Vehicle Industry Applauds Proposed NHTSA FMVSS Rulemaking

WASHINGTON -- Today, Jeff Farrah, CEO of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA), today issued the following statement in response to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announcing three proposed amendments to modernize Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for autonomous vehicles:

“The autonomous vehicle industry commends Secretary Duffy for taking action to modernize safety standards for autonomous vehicles. By addressing manual controls in autonomous vehicles, the Department of Transportation can pave the way for more accessible AVs that expand mobility opportunities for Americans.

“Today’s announcement is another strong step toward a federal framework for autonomous vehicles as outlined in Secretary Duffy’s innovation agenda. Earlier this year, the autonomous vehicle industry called for federal action on manual controls in our federal framework, Securing American Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles, and we are pleased to see today’s move forward.”

Read AVIA's Federal Policy Framework, "Securing American Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles".

In July, the National Council on Disabilities issued a report to Congress, the President, and the Administration about ground transportation access for Americans with mobility disabilities. The report examined the unique barriers facing these Americans and the opportunities for policymakers to expand transportation options, including expanding autonomous vehicle access.

About AVIA

AVIA works with lawmakers, regulators, and the public to realize the safety and societal benefits of autonomous vehicles. As the unified voice of the AV industry, the association is composed of companies with diverse technical expertise and experience in the technology, automobile, ride hail, trucking, and logistics sectors. Bringing together their varied backgrounds, the companies formed AVIA to advance AVs’ tremendous safety, mobility, and economic benefits to consumers in the safest and swiftest manner possible.

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