U.S. Government Releases New Safety Guidelines For Automated Driving Systems

In a move to provide streamlined and flexible guidance, the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") have released new guidelines for automated driving systems ("ADS"). A Vision for Safety 2.0¹ provides automakers voluntary guidance and best practices for the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles. These guidelines arrive on the heels of a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on a bill that permits the deployment of up to 25,000 autonomous vehicles exempted from safety standards in its first year, and 100,000 annually after that. While ensuring that safety remains the top priority, A Vision for Safety 2.0 supports further development of autonomous vehicle technologies which will change the way we travel, deliver goods, and provide services.