Transportation's Chao Says Administration Reviewing NHTSA's Self-Driving Car Guidelines

The Trump administration is reviewing federal self-driving vehicle guidelines issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in September, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said at a National Governors Association meeting Sunday. “This administration is evaluating this guidance and will consult with you and other stakeholders as we update it and amend it ... and ensure that it strikes the right balance.” NHTSA issued the guidelines in September, asking automakers and tech companies developing self-driving systems to voluntarily provide details on a 15-item “safety assessment” checklist that covers broad areas such as cybersecurity, data-sharing and privacy (see 1609200039 and 1609160038). Some automakers at a recent House hearing (see 1702140042 and 1702130013) wanted more flexibility in the rules to allow more testing, and to prevent a patchwork of state and local regulations that are hindering development of the technology. Chao also cited advancements in integrating drones into the national airspace and the benefits from that technology. She said the federal government should be a catalyst for "safe and effective" technologies, not an impediment. She said Detroit, Silicon Valley and others need "to step up and help educate a skeptical public about the benefit of automated technologies." The secretary said many people are anxious about safety and privacy from these advancements.