The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) each issued an
advanced notice of proposed rule-making (ANPRM) regarding the
removal of regulatory barriers to the safe introduction of
automated driving systems (ADS) on public roads on 28 May.
The NHTSA's ANPRM
The NHTSA's ANPRM focuses on how to amend its crash
avoidance (100-series) federal motor vehicle safety standards
(FMVSS) to account for Level 4 and 5 autonomous vehicles (AV) that
lack typical manual controls (e.g., steering wheels,
foot-controlled accelerator, and brake pedals) but have traditional
seating configurations. The 100-series FMVSS are designed to reduce
the likelihood or severity of a crash and include standards
relating to lighting, mirrors, braking requirements, tires, and
advanced safety systems.
