U.S. states could not set self-driving car rules under Republican plan
U.S. states could not set self-driving car rules under Republican plan
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-selfdriving-idUSKBN1962YV
By David Shepardson | Thu Jun 15, 2017 | 6:37pm EDT
California and other states would be barred from setting their own rules governing design and testing of self-driving cars, while federal regulators would be blocked from demanding pre-market approval for autonomous vehicle technology, according to a U.S. House Republican proposal reviewed by Reuters on Thursday.
The draft legislation, while far from becoming law, still represents a victory for General Motors Co, Alphabet Inc, Tesla Inc and other automakers and technology companies seeking to persuade Congress and the Trump administration to pre-empt rules under consideration in California, New York and other states that could limit deployment of self-driving vehicles.
The industry also opposed an Obama administration proposal last year that raised the possibility of giving regulators the power to review and approve self-driving car technology before it was put into service, similar to the vetting by Federal Aviation Administration of new technology for aircraft.
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Another would declare crash data, other testing and validation reports from automated cars turned over to U.S. regulators to be "confidential business information."
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I support the development of autonomous vehicle technology. Someday, WHEN IT IS READY, it holds the promise to save lives and offer mobility to people who are otherwise restricted by factors such as age, physical disability, anxiety, or licensing issues.
But this surrendering of pre-approval and public reporting of crash data is a massive pile of (mostly, but not solely GOP) bullshit.
