AVIA CEO Jeff Farrah Testifies Before Senate Commerce Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Jeff Farrah, CEO of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The hearing, entitled Hit the Road, Mac: The Future of Self-Driving Cars, focused on the need for a federal AV framework to support U.S. innovation and stay competitive with other countries.

During his testimony, Farrah highlighted two options facing lawmakers.

Choice A: Congress puts in place federal rules of the road that allow American innovators to thrive.
“We need action from Congress in these areas: first, raise the bar on safety for all autonomous vehicles by requiring the Department of Transportation to move forward on a series of rulemakings, including requiring that AV manufacturers develop a safety case—that is evidence and documentation demonstrating why their vehicle is safe to be on the roads. The Department of Transportation should also require that AV companies abide by a series of driving competencies, so the public understands that the vehicles are safe.

“Second, put AV data reporting on solid legal footing by enshrining, in statute, a National AV Safety Data Repository that has NHTSA collecting data and sharing vital information with state regulatory partners.

“Third, modernize federal standards related to vehicle controls that are intended for human drivers, thereby allowing innovators to develop next-generation vehicles that take meaningful steps forward on accessibility.”

Choice B: Congress rejects this opportunity and fails to put in place a federal policy framework.
“Choice B has the following consequences: China becomes the global leader on autonomous vehicles. At this moment, China is devoting massive resources to the development of its national champions. [And,] we accept the status quo—preventable deaths due to human error; transportation options that leave millions in the rearview mirror; faltering supply chains that let small businesses down; and states leading on AV policy with little guidance from their federal counterpart.”

Read Jeff Farrah’s testimony here.

Watch the hearing here.

About the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA):

The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association mission is to advocate for American leadership in the safe and timely deployment of autonomous driving technology. AVIA is the unified voice of the diverse companies advancing safe and trusted autonomous vehicles. AVIA believes that autonomous vehicles increase road safety, strengthen supply chains, expand economic opportunity, and improve mobility for all.