On May 12, Freight Waves quoted Ariel Wolf regarding the need for AV-friendly regulation reform.
According to the article, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) is urging the Trump administration to revise federal regulations to support the deployment of autonomous trucks on U.S. highways.
In response to a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) request for regulatory feedback, AVIA recommended eliminating or updating several regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that currently impede autonomous vehicle (AV) development.
In his comments filed with DOT on behalf of AVIA, Wolf emphasized the opportunity for progress, stating that “DOT has the opportunity to leverage its own previous work along with industry expertise to advance the American AV industry, eliminate or streamline outdated regulations, and ensure that the United States retains its international leadership and competitive advantage as this critical technology continues to grow and evolve.”
Freight Waves reported that one key AVIA proposal includes reversing FMCSA’s current stance on cab-mounted warning beacons, which can replace traditional driver-deployed flares or triangles for stopped vehicles.
Wolf argued that the revised approach to roadside warning devices would increase both safety and autonomy. “Modifying the existing regulations to allow for the use of cab-mounted beacons instead of driver-placed devices not only allows [autonomous] CMVs to meet the warning device requirement, but also gives human drivers a safe alternative to exiting their vehicles on busy highways,” he said.
Click here to access the article.