Despite Google and other technology companies investing large amounts into driverless cars, engineers and safety campaigners have told the US Government that they are just not safe enough yet. The issue has come about in the light of reports over unsolved technical issues which are causing a lot of concern despite the companies’ push for faster government approval.
It has been reported that a trade association for auto manufacturers has called for caution with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and that a slower approach to them delivering their driverless vehicle regulations will be better. The decision to produce the new regulations was made in January 2016 with a promise from officials to have it completed by July 2016.
Paul Scullion, the Safety Manager at the Association of Global Automakers stated that there are risks in the Government deviating from their usual timescale and process of issuing regulations and standards.
He added that issuing such regulations normally takes around 8 years and whereas guidance is open to interpretation by being more general in its terms, regulations are both strict and enforceable.
“While this process is often time-consuming, these procedural safeguards are in place for valid reasons,” Scullion said.
The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Mark Rosekind stated that the agency cannot deal with the usual timeframes as the technology exists and is already being used on the roads. The technology that he highlighted included automatic braking and lane controls.
He added: “Everybody asks, ‘When are they going to be ready?’ I keep saying they’re not coming; they are here now.”
On the issue of Federal instructions Rosekind continued: “People are just going to keep putting stuff out on the road with no guidance on how do we do this the right way.”
It was further emphasised that driverless technologies are “game changing” and have the potential effect of making the roads safer and saving thousands of lives.
It should be noted that President Obama has recently announced a 10 year, $3.9 billion plan for automated technologies including the large scale deployment of driverless vehicles.
