Department of Transportation Asks for Public Input Regarding Relaxing AV Regulations

To better engage with developers of autonomous vehicles (AVs), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking to remove unnecessary regulation that could slow the testing and deployment of automated driving system (ADS) technology.

The DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration  (FMCSA) both issued “advance notices of proposed rulemaking” and are seeking input to ensure that all potential approached are thoroughly considered before following through on regulatory action.

“One of the Department’s priorities is to prepare for the future by engaging with new technology while addressing legitimate public concerns about safety, security, and privacy, without hampering innovation,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary, Elaine L. Chao.

William Kucinski  is content editor at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group in Warrendale, Pa. Previously, he worked as a writer at the NASA Safety Center in Cleveland, Ohio and was responsible for writing the agency’s System Failure Case Studies. His interests include literally anything that has to do with space, past and present military aircraft, and propulsion technology.

Contact him regarding any article or collaboration ideas by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..