The U.S. Department of Transporting has released a new National Strategy for Automated Vehicles for the next five years. It is intended to meet the following objectives:

• Prioritize Safety: Provide guardrails to support and improve safety as the AV industry grows – including the first safety standards for automated vehicle competency.

• Provide Regulatory Certainty: Modernize existing regulations, remove unnecessary barriers, streamline processes, and provide clarity and predictability. Work towards consistency. 

• Promote American Innovation: Expand commercial availability and operation for passenger and freight applications domestically and promote U.S. interests abroad.

• Facilitate Interoperable Corridors: Convene national stakeholders to promote seamless cross-state interoperability within the transportation system.

In the safety arena, DOT regulations, including those from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, allow for the development and deployment of AVs. Those AVs must still comply with all existing Federal standards unless granted an exemption.

DOT continues to assess how the regulatory environment will need to evolve to meet future needs for driverless vehicles as technologies mature and adoption increases. Many current regulations assume that a person will be operating the vehicle, and the regulations must adjust to a new reality.

DOT also does not want state regulations to serve as a barrier to AV adoption and will promote seamless cross-state interoperability within the transportation system. DOT asserts it supports the digital modernization of our highways for widespread operational benefits, which should also make them more attractive to AV operators.

FMCSA is in the process of modernizing regulations regarding the safe operation of CMVs. These rulemaking activities would, if finalized, amend certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to ensure the safe introduction and oversight of ADS-equipped CMVs onto the nation’s roadways.

Similarly, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to obtain input on revising the Hazardous Materials Regulations to facilitate the safe transportation of hazardous materials using highly automated transportation systems.