March 2020
USDOT Expands Autonomous Vehicle Support and Requests Comments
The Office of the Secretary (OST) for the Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a Request for Comments (RfC) in the February 6, 2020 Federal Register (F.R. Vol. 85 No. 25; [Docket No. DOT-OST-2019-0179]). The RfC addresses the recently published Automated Vehicles 4.0 (AV 4.0): Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies.
AV 4.0 builds on Automated Vehicles 3.0 (AV 3.0): Preparing for the Future of Transportation and expands the scope to 38 relevant United States Government (USG) components which have direct or tangential equities in safe development and integration of AV technologies. Key areas addressed are USG AV technologies principles, efforts supporting AV technology growth and leadership, and USG activities and opportunities for collaboration.
The White House and the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) developed AV 4.0 to unify efforts in AVs across federal departments, independent agencies, commissions, and Executive Offices of The President. The document provides high-level guidance to federal agencies, innovators, and all stakeholders in the U.S. Government's posture towards AVs. The USDOT is actively engaging with new technologies to address legitimate public concerns about safety, security, and privacy without hampering innovation.
In September 2017 they released Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety (ADS 2.0) which provided voluntary guidance to industry, and technical assistance and best practices to States, offering a path forward for the safe testing and integration of Automated Driving Systems (ADS).
Following that, October 2018, they introduced guiding principles for AV innovation for all surface transportation modes, and described the USDOT's strategy to address existing barriers to potential safety benefits and progress. Now, AV 4.0 details 10 U.S. Government principles to protect users and communities, promote efficient markets, and to facilitate coordinated efforts to ensure a standardized federal approach to American leadership in AVs. Additionally, AV 4.0 presents the United States Government's posture for AV based surface transportation on a vision in which American innovators are global leaders in AV technology, integrating this technology in the United States and around the world in a safe and secure manner.
AV 4.0 establishes ten U.S. Government principles that consist of three core interests:
- Potential Benefits of AVs and U.S. Government AV Technology Principles to Protect Users and Communities, Promote Efficient Markets and Facilitate Coordinated Efforts
- Administration Efforts Supporting AV Technology Growth and Leadership
- U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) encourages the following principles:
- Prioritize Safety
- Emphasize Security and Cybersecurity
- Ensure Privacy and Data Security
- Enhance Mobility and Accessibility
- Remain Technology Neutral
- Protect American Innovation and Creativity
- Modernize Regulations
- Promote Consistent Standards and Policies
- Ensure a Consistent Federal Approach
- Improve Transportation System-Level Effects
The White House OSTP encourages a future in which the United States is a global leader in AV technology. The U.S. Government offers AV innovators and entrepreneurs an ideal environment to develop and integrate AV technology while prioritizing safety, security, and privacy for users and communities; promoting efficient markets; and facilitating coordinated research efforts nationwide. In preparation for emerging and innovative AV technology, the U.S. Government will provide policies, guidance, and best practices; conduct appropriate research and pilot programs; and offer necessary assistance to help plan for and invest in a dynamic and flexible future for all Americans.
Included in the AV 4.0 document are five Appendices listing the government resources, AV contact information, Automated Vehicle Fast Track Action Committee, Development and Writing Team, and all of the related acronyms.
Comments should be submitted prior to April 2, 2020. The RfC and AV 4.0 documents are available on InterRegs.NET for our US Federal subscribers and are also available at www.selectregs.com.