DOT Forms New Advisory Committee on Automation, Including Self-Driving Cars

The Department of Transportation said it formed an advisory committee on automation, including the development and deployment of self-driving vehicles. A Wednesday DOT news release said the committee, which will hold its first meeting Monday, will also help the department determine needs involving research, policy and regulations. "This new automation committee will work to advance life-saving innovations while boosting our economy and making our transportation network more fair, reliable, and efficient," said Secretary Anthony Foxx. General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will co-chair the 25-member committee. Other members include: Information Technology Industry Council President Dean Garfield; Uber regional general manager Rachel Holt; former Environmental Protection Agency head Lisa Jackson, now Apple vice president-environment, policy and social initiatives; John Krafcik, CEO of Google's Waymo; Amazon Senior Corporate Counsel-Aviation Gerry Murphy; and former US Airways pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who's now CEO of Safety Reliability Methods.