The National High Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently extended a call for public input following requests made by GM and Ford to deploy a limited number of fully autonomous vehicles without human controls on public streets.
As GM Authority covered last month, GM and Ford have both petitioned the NHTSA to deploy fully autonomous vehicles without a steering wheel, pedals, windshield wipers, or mirrors. Both automakers seek an exemption to put upwards of 2,500 self-driving vehicles on the road annually, the maximum number allowed under the law, with planned uses for ride sharing and delivery services. Neither automaker is seeking to sell fully autonomous vehicles to the public for the time being.
Following the petition from GM and Ford, the NHTSA stated that it would analyze the petitions to make sure that safety was prioritized, as well as to ensure that considerations were made towards equity, the environment, and those with disabilities. In addition, the NHTSA opened the petitions to public comment for 30 days.
Now, according to a recent report from Reuters, the NHTSA has extended the period for public comment by an additional 30 days following requests made by the cities of San Francisco and Oakland, both located in the California Bay Area, to further analyze the automakers’ exemption requests.
According to Reuters, San Francisco stated that the petitions raise “numerous complex technical and policy issues involving vehicle safety that necessitate significant analysis.” The city added that San Francisco “is the location with the most intensive testing of automated vehicles to date… As such, we have valuable insights to offer and stand to be significantly affected by the outcome of the petition.”
The NHTSA has the authority to allow a limited number of vehicles to operate on public roads without human controls. GM, alongside the automaker’s self-driving tech subsidiary Cruise, disclosed its petition for exemption in February, while Ford’s petition, submitted in July of last year, was disclosed by the NHTSA last month.
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Comments
In other words, the public hates them…..
No mention of that in the article. You obviously hate them.
Put the CEO’s and board members of Ford and GM in autonomous race cars. Let them each make 25 runs up and down Pikes Peak. Then we’ll evaluate the situation.
Every auto manufacturer should be required to post an irrevocable cash deposit of $25.million US for EACH vehicle being tested, in the State the vehicle is being tested. This will guarantee that if someone is injured or killed due to any accident or mishap that an autonomous vehicle is involved in, immediate funds are available, to save years of legal dispute. This will immediately provide for funds to be distributed to cover any hospitalization costs, injury causing loss of employment, any damage to property, and loss of life benefits. The posting of the cash deposit, will not cap the financial responsibility of the auto manufacturer or its suppliers, but will prevent the delay of compensating victims and claims. AND FURTHER, the auto manufacturer agrees the all Legal costs of any victim or the families of victims will be paid for by the auto manufacturer, including medical prescriptions, medical treatment, specialized equipment, any home care required, or such assistance as the Medical Profession deem to be necessary, as well as the loss of income while unable to work, and there will be NO LIMIT of financial coverage. If auto manufactures are confident in the technology, they should agree to this without any question or dispute. If the auto manufacturer disagrees, the State shall automatically prohibit any testing, or continued use of autonomous vehicles on any highway in the State. For the safety of everyone, this should be a no brainer for Elected Officials.
You think companies like GM or Ford went into this testing without making sure they are all well insured? The cities involved would have not allowed this testing without insurance. Go look up the statistics about people in the US who drive without a license or insurance.
Kretch I guess you have been very fortunate not to have been involved in any civil litigation. When big companies pay big money for Insurance,, they do that only to look after their own interest. Insurance Companies will go to no end to delay any claims, and will use any tactic they can so they do not have to pay out. Insurance companies will spend $10,000. to fight a $2,000. claim. By imposing an irrevocable cash deposit, this looks after everyone that does not have the means to hire expensive lawyers. If you have a chance, take the time to speak to people that have been victims of accidents where the victims lost their jobs, lost their homes, because they couldn’t continue a fight against big corporations and big insurance companies that were being defended by the lawyers who had no compassion for humanity, only the interest of making a buck. Until you are a victim, I doubt you will appreciate the meaning of my suggestion. If you or a friend of yours becomes a victim, then you will understand. If you disagree, I really don’t care, I expect most people with common sense will.
I vote no on this stupid dangerous idea!
Why are they spending billions to eliminate a $13 per hour driver??