FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement of Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), on Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Inaugural Partial Driving Automation Safeguard Ratings
Washington, DC, March 12, 2024 | Today, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its first ever ratings on safeguards for partial driving automation systems. Advocates commends IIHS for shining a light on the shortcomings of these systems in order to encourage improved safeguards. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has a key role in ensuring the safety of partial driving automation systems. IIHS’s new ratings should send a clear and compelling signal that minimum performance standards are necessary to prevent crashes.
Well-publicized crashes related to the failure of partial driving automation systems, along with data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a result of its Standing General Order (SGO, 2021-01) to compel reporting of such, underscore that overreliance on the technology by drivers can lead to serious injury and death when it fails to operate as intended and needed. Therefore, safeguards, including effective driver monitoring, timely and compelling warnings, and proper emergency escalation, are crucial in reducing the risks of horrific motor vehicle crashes. These ratings make it abundantly clear that no vehicle is for sale today that allows a driver to take their attention off the task of driving.
Whether it relates to partial driving automation systems or autonomous vehicles (AVs), the public has a right to be protected on public roadways.