Can Self-Driving Cars Operate Safely? Let NHTSA Know

Since Thanksgiving is this week, we thought we’d take a break from discussing anything controversial in this week’s Editorial Commentary post such as the elections, COVID-19 or funding shortfalls. Let’s just skip over the present for a while and focus on the future.

Last week, the Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public comments on the potential development of a framework of principles to govern the safe behavior of automated driving systems (ADS) (i.e., self-driving cars) in the future. DOT officials said the rulemaking is designed to “address legitimate public concerns about safety, security and privacy without hampering innovation” in developing ADS.

NHTSA makes sure to emphasize that such technology isn't right around the corner, explaining that no ADS-equipped vehicle is available for sale to the public today “and widescale deployment of ADS-equipped vehicles is likely years away.” Still, the agency did point out that it has already identified elements for a framework needed for ADS systems to be viable. NHTSA Deputy Administrator James Owens obviously explains that “ADS technologies are different from more conventional automotive equipment, and it necessary and appropriate to consider how ADS standards can and should be articulated.”

With federal involvement in the future of ADS technology, it’s possible that we may see grant funding provided for research and testing of these ADS vehicles. From our standpoint, the thought of self-driving vehicles is somewhat worrisome, as we have seen that vehicles are not always safe when driven by actual people behind the wheel. Will a driverless vehicle know how to correct itself after hitting a patch of ice and beginning to skid? Will it know how to pull over when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind? And then there’s the conundrum of four ADS vehicles pulling to a four-way stop sign at the same time. Which one will go first with no driver offering to wave the other cars through ahead of him? If this notice does wind up getting a fair number of public comments, it will be interesting to see what other thoughts are.

So maybe this topic was a bit controversial. But at least it got our minds off some of the current concerns facing our nation right now. And for that, we can all be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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