US Congress passes Federal law for autonomous cars
BartSimpson @ Wed Sep 06, 2017 3:12 pm
https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/6/16259 ... egislation
$1:
The US is speeding toward its first national law for self-driving cars
The US House of Representatives passed a bill today that could accelerate the rollout of self-driving technology. The Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution Act, or “SELF DRIVE” Act, quickly cleared the House with unanimous support, and now moves to the Senate. If it passes there, it could become the first national law for self-driving cars in the United States.
The overarching goal of the Self Drive Act is to establish a federal framework for the regulation of self-driving cars, something industry experts say is sorely needed in the early days of the technology. It would also dramatically increase the possible number of autonomous vehicles on the road. Right now, automakers and companies interested in testing self-driving technology have to apply for exemptions to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) federal motor vehicle safety standards, and the agency only grants 2,500 per year. The Self Drive Act would increase that cap to 25,000 per year initially, and expand it up to 100,000 annually in three years’ time.
The US House of Representatives passed a bill today that could accelerate the rollout of self-driving technology. The Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution Act, or “SELF DRIVE” Act, quickly cleared the House with unanimous support, and now moves to the Senate. If it passes there, it could become the first national law for self-driving cars in the United States.
The overarching goal of the Self Drive Act is to establish a federal framework for the regulation of self-driving cars, something industry experts say is sorely needed in the early days of the technology. It would also dramatically increase the possible number of autonomous vehicles on the road. Right now, automakers and companies interested in testing self-driving technology have to apply for exemptions to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) federal motor vehicle safety standards, and the agency only grants 2,500 per year. The Self Drive Act would increase that cap to 25,000 per year initially, and expand it up to 100,000 annually in three years’ time.
California's Legislature previously discussed the impacts of driverless vehicles and some of the thoughts that I got to hear in the joint committee meeting were:
1. The potential to ban human driven cars in the future.
2. Visualizing roads without stop signs, traffic signals, or speed limits.
3. Revising drunk driving laws to exempt driverless vehicles.
4. Impacts on commercial truck driving when driverless trucks take over handling commercial truck traffic.
5. The potential to significantly reduce the annual number of traffic fatalities in California (3678 in 2016).
6. More efficient roads that permit vehicles to choose lanes without regards to direction...meaning that certain roads might be all one direction at peak times if the majority of vehicles on the road decide to all go one way.
7. Impacts on the elderly and disabled to be able to use vehicles without human assistance.
8. Reduced insurance rates and costs.
9. Reduced injuries and traumas from collisions.
10. Reduced healthcare costs from collisions.
11. No more police chases. Self-driving vehicles would automatically stop for law enforcement.
...amazing that this kind of thing might become commonplace and maybe even mandatory before 2030.
My thought and concern is that a self driving vehicle - especially a truck - could easily become a guided missile for terrorists. And hackers could possibly cause vehicles to crash on demand.
DrCaleb @ Thu Sep 07, 2017 6:03 am
Let's also not forget and end to jobs in the parking, autobody, and aftermarket parts trades.
I doubt they'd ever become mandatory. They are designed to co-exist with regular vehicles now. Older vehicles weren't outlawed when fuel economy standards were introduced, nor when safety standards changed. I foresee no change in attitude now.
stratos @ Thu Sep 07, 2017 11:27 pm
DrCaleb DrCaleb:
Let's also not forget and end to jobs in the parking, autobody, and aftermarket parts trades.
I doubt they'd ever become mandatory. They are designed to co-exist with regular vehicles now. Older vehicles weren't outlawed when fuel economy standards were introduced, nor when safety standards changed. I foresee no change in attitude now.
I doubt they'd ever become mandatory. They are designed to co-exist with regular vehicles now. Older vehicles weren't outlawed when fuel economy standards were introduced, nor when safety standards changed. I foresee no change in attitude now.
Yet within 10-15 years after the changes were made most if not all of the vehicles that existed prior to the change were off the road.
Thanos @ Fri Sep 08, 2017 2:01 am
Planned obsolescence. That period from the early 1970's through to the mid-1990's where North American vehicles were really crappy. The vast majority of people not being able to do their own maintenance. Increasingly high prices for major repairs to keep an old one going. Easy credit enabling more people to drive new vehicles instead of taking an old one to it's ultimate limit. Just the fact that unless someone has a classic that demands to be kept in great condition most people will just want to drive new instead of old anyway. Much better safety statistics on new vehicles than on any of the old ones. Probably a dozen other additional reasons too that explain why the old cars just aren't seen in large numbers anymore.
DrCaleb @ Fri Sep 08, 2017 6:19 am
stratos stratos:
DrCaleb DrCaleb:
Let's also not forget and end to jobs in the parking, autobody, and aftermarket parts trades.
I doubt they'd ever become mandatory. They are designed to co-exist with regular vehicles now. Older vehicles weren't outlawed when fuel economy standards were introduced, nor when safety standards changed. I foresee no change in attitude now.
I doubt they'd ever become mandatory. They are designed to co-exist with regular vehicles now. Older vehicles weren't outlawed when fuel economy standards were introduced, nor when safety standards changed. I foresee no change in attitude now.
Yet within 10-15 years after the changes were made most if not all of the vehicles that existed prior to the change were off the road.
You can still legally drive a 1940's or 50's era car without a seatbelt on - because they didn't come with seat belts. There is no requirement to retrofit them in. Nor is there a requirement to put on smog or CARB certification equipment.
Wear and tear will 'thin the herd', but I don't foresee cars that can't self drive being outlawed nor will they have to be retrofitted to be autonomous. It's the new cars that will have to deal with the old ones.
herbie @ Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:43 am
Yeah that pisses me when I see all those car shows on TV. Restore some vintage car and cruise around without a seatbelt pretending that would some how 'diminish the authenticity'.
The smog gear thing isn't a big deal, we're talking very few cars.
But what really pisses me, and I just click past most of those shows now is all you ever see is old American pony or muscle cars. Fucking shit when they were built and couldn't afford to run them at 35c a gallon. Wouldn't even consider driving one without 4 wheel disks added and 3 point belts.
BartSimpson @ Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:52 am
DrCaleb DrCaleb:
Let's also not forget and end to jobs in the parking, autobody, and aftermarket parts trades.
I doubt they'd ever become mandatory. They are designed to co-exist with regular vehicles now. Older vehicles weren't outlawed when fuel economy standards were introduced, nor when safety standards changed. I foresee no change in attitude now.
I doubt they'd ever become mandatory. They are designed to co-exist with regular vehicles now. Older vehicles weren't outlawed when fuel economy standards were introduced, nor when safety standards changed. I foresee no change in attitude now.
You can't ban the vehicles but in the USA a driver's license is a privilege and not a right so all the state has to do is to simply stop issuing driver's licenses.