Rep. Debbie Dingell: Members of Congress Aware of Need for Vehicle Automation Policy
WASHINGTON — Advancements in self-driving vehicles merit a uniform set of guidelines that would ensure the safety of motorists and the smooth connectivity of freight corridors, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), an auto industry proponent, said Jan. 25 ahead of the Washington Auto Show.
The congresswoman acknowledged transportation leaders need to craft policies focusing on self-driving vehicles, smart infrastructure and privacy concerns stemming from vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Next month, she said her colleagues intend to hold a meeting on the matter.
“Democrats and Republicans understand that this is transformational. That it’s coming,” Dingell said at a panel on Capitol Hill meant to preview the show. “We need to make sure that it’s a coalition of industry, consumers … everybody working together that will help develop the correct public policy.”
The congresswoman emphasized the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent designation of 10 testing sites for automated vehicle technologies nationwide has the potential of creating a network for experts to enhance safety features.
The proving ground pilot sites for automated vehicles, announced on Jan. 19, are: Pittsburgh and the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, the Texas AV Proving Grounds Partnership, the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center, the American Center for Mobility (ACM) at Willow Run, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority & GoMentum Station, the San Diego Association of Governments, the Iowa City Area Development Group, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Central Florida Automated Vehicle Partners, and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority.
“To create a community to share information is going to be very, very important,” Dingell said.
Last fall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued guidelines on autonomous cars that outline state and federal roles managing the technology. Proponents of the technology argued the guidelines did not go far enough.
The Washington Auto Show will be held from Jan. 27 to Feb. 5 at the Washington Convention Center.
