New Federal Safety Standards and Testing Rules for Autonomous Vehicles
This Act establishes mandatory federal safety standards for vehicles equipped with Automated Driving Systems (ADS), requiring manufacturers to prove their systems are safe before they can be sold. It aims to accelerate the deployment of autonomous technology while ensuring public safety and creating a unified regulatory framework across the US. A national repository for crash data involving these vehicles will also be created.
Key points
Manufacturers of autonomous vehicles (Level 3, 4, 5) must develop a detailed “safety case” proving their systems do not pose an unreasonable risk of accidents, death, or injury before market introduction.
A National Automated Vehicle Safety Data Repository will be established to collect detailed information on serious crashes involving ADS-equipped vehicles (e.g., fatalities, injuries, vulnerable road users).
Federal law preempts state laws that might prohibit the sale or manufacture of ADS vehicles, ensuring consistent national standards, though states retain authority over traffic laws and insurance.
Fully driverless vehicles must include a mechanism allowing occupants to safely command the vehicle to stop (Minimal Risk Condition) and exit.
Status:
Introduced
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