The new rules will come into effect next year.
Donald Trump is all about propping up big businesses (not so much small businesses) and cutting regulations. Lately, his administration has decided to waive certain long-established regulatory precedents to make things a little easier for the self-driving car industry.
On Thursday, Trump’s Transportation Secretary, Sean P. Duffy, announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will release three new rules next year designed to “modernize” the government’s federal motor vehicle safety standards for vehicles with “automated driving systems.” The new rules are theoretically designed for automakers trying to develop and commercialize autonomous vehicles.
“The United States must lead the way in transportation innovation. If we don’t, our competitors will fill the void,” said Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “The rules of the road need to be updated to meet 21st-century realities. Our changes will eliminate redundant requirements and bring us closer to a single national standard that fosters innovation and prioritizes safety.”
“Federal motor vehicle safety standards were written for vehicles with human drivers and need to be updated for autonomous vehicles. Removing these requirements will reduce costs and improve safety. NHTSA is committed to supporting the safe development of advanced technologies and advancing a new era of transportation,” said NHTSA Chief Peter Simshauser.
According to the announcement, the government is targeting the following rules for relaxation:
- FMVSS No. 102, “Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect.”
- FMVSS No. 103, “Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems,” and FMVSS No. 104, “Windshield Cleaning and Washing Systems.”
- FMVSS No. 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”
Some self-driving car companies say they’ve encountered regulatory issues because much of the legal framework for car safety was designed with human-operated vehicles in mind. Earlier this year, Aurora Innovation, a Pennsylvania-based automated trucking company, sued an agency within the Department of Transportation over a regulatory dispute. Aurora had previously asked the government to exempt it from a regulation that requires truck drivers to deploy roadside warning devices whenever stopped on the side of the road. Because Aurora has no human drivers, its vehicles were clearly unable to deploy the devices. The government denied the request, which triggered the litigation.
Many of these regulations were designed with the idea that self-driving cars need a human nanny. In recent years, we’ve seen limited deployment of autonomous vehicles that, under certain conditions, can survive on their own. Still, this technology is in its infancy, and even a company as large and well-funded as Tesla needs human drivers present in its robotaxis. Even if the technology were fully baked, we might still see companies include windshield wipers. Being a passenger in a self-driving taxi is already a bit disconcerting. Not being able to see out the window during a downpour is sure to trigger panic attacks. But hey, the Trump administration needs to throw its friends some kind of bone, even if it’s largely symbolic, right?
