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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently launched three rules that will modernize federal motor vehicle safety standards for vehicles with automated driving systems. Current standards were written prior to the advent of automated vehicles (AV).
“Federal motor vehicle safety standards were written for vehicles with human drivers and need to be updated for autonomous vehicles,” Peter Simshauser, NHTSA chief counsel, said. “Removing these requirements will reduce costs and enhance safety. NHTSA is committed to supporting the safe development of advanced technologies and advancing a new era of transportation.”
The changes are part of the agency’s Automated Vehicle Framework and apply to vehicles with automated driving systems and no manual controls. The rules apply to the transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect; lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment; and windshield defrosting and defogging systems, and wiping and washing systems.
The framework is based on three principles: prioritizing the safety of ongoing AV operations on public roads, removing unnecessary regulatory barriers to innovation, and enabling commercial deployment of AVs to enhance safety and mobility for the American public.
The Part 555 of the AV Framework allows auto manufacturers to sell up to 2,500 vehicles annually that do not fully comply with safety standards.
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