While Advocates is hopeful that autonomous vehicles (AVs), once subject to minimum performance requirements and robust oversight, may have the potential to meaningfully reduce crash deaths and injuries, currently they are being developed and deployed in a way that is insufficient to protect those in AVs and other road users. Numerous public opinion polls show a high skepticism and fear about the technology, and for good reason. Multiple crashes have occurred in the U.S. involving cars equipped with autonomous technology that are subject to investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Advocates has proposed regulations and safeguards to protect the public. Moreover, Advocates is opposed to expanding exemptions from federal motor vehicle safety standards for AVs that will be sold to the public and tested on public roads.
Find out more about autonomous vehicle safety: AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TENETS: A “GPS” to Guarantee Public Safety
2023
Statement of Catherine Chase, president, on “The Future Of Automated Commercial Motor Vehicles: Impacts On Society, The Supply Chain, And U.S. Economic Leadership.” Submitted to the United States House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee On Highways and Transit – September 13, 2023
Advocates’ Public Opinion Poll on Driverless Cars and Trucks – March 7, 2023
Video: Virtual Capitol Hill Briefing-Expert Panel on Autonomous Vehicles – March 7, 2023
2022
- Letter to the Editor: Go Slow on Driverless Cars (8/29/22)
- Letter to the Editor: San Francisco Shows Need for AV Regulation (8/22/22)
Response to Washington Post Editorial on Safety Concerns with Automated Driving Technology (6/27/22) - Press Conference on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Release of Data on Crashes Involving Vehicles with Automated Driving Technology (6/15/22)
- Statement on Revisions to Rules for Protecting Occupants in Vehicles with Automated Driving Systems (ADS) (3/10/22)
- Advocates President Cathy Chase Testifies before Congress on autonomous vehicle safety (2/2/22)
2021
- The Hill Op-Ed: The safe and equitable road forward on autonomous vehicles starts with proven technologies to save lives (2/17/21)
- Statement: Efforts to Bend Rules to Accommodate AV Manufacturers Ignore the Biggest Safety Concern for AVs: Will They Crash? (1/14/21)
- Statement on NHTSA Announcement About the AV TEST Initiative (1/11/21)
2020
- Statement in Opposition to the SELF DRIVE Act (9/23/20)
- Statement on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) AV TEST Initiative (6/15/20)
- The Hill Op-Ed: Congress must proceed with caution on driverless cars bill (5/29/20)
- Washington Post Letter to the Editor: Without regulation, self-driving cars could be a hazard (5/3/20)
- Group Letter Opposing Autonomous Vehicles Legislation as Part of COVID-19 Response (4/15/20)
- Statement on Latest Expert Crash Investigation Reports Calling for Meaningful Regulation of Partially Autonomous Cars (3/20/20)
- Statement on the Misguided and Mistaken Action of the U.S. Department of Transportation on Autonomous Vehicles (3/18/20)
- Statement on New Expert White Paper Revealing Inconsistencies and Dangerous Safety Gaps in Development of Partially Autonomous Vehicle Technology (3/12/20)
- Statement: Nation’s Top Crash Investigators Confirm the Need for Swift Action to Prevent Future Crashes, Injuries and Deaths Linked to Partially Autonomous Vehicles (2/25/20)
- Testimony by Advocates President Cathy Chase Submitted to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce (2/11/20)
- January 2020 Public Opinion Survey on Autonomous Vehicles commissioned by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
- Statement on U.S. DOT’s 4.0 Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Policy (1/8/20)
- Media Alert on Autonomous Vehicle Safety Capitol Hill Briefing (1/7/20)
2019
- Testimony by Advocates President Cathy Chase Submitted to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (11/20/19)
- Stakeholder letter to Congress in response to request for comment on autonomous vehicle legislation (11/4/19)
- Stakeholder letter to Congress in on regulating autonomous vehicles (8/23/19)
- Public Opinion Polls Show Deep Skepticism About Autonomous Vehicles
2018
- Statement from Safety and Consumer Groups: Defective Driverless Car Legislation Fails to Advance (12/21/18)
- Advocates’ Summary of Revised AV START Act Draft (12/4/18)
- Joint Statement on AV START Act (S. 1885) (12/3/19)
- Letter From Alliance of More Than 75 Groups Asking Senate to Oppose AV START Act (S. 1885) (11/28/18)
- Statement on Waymo’s 10 Million Miles Driven (10/10/18)
- Statement on U.S. DOT AV 3.0 Guidelines (10/4/18)
- Advocates President Cathy Chase’s Testimony to Submitted to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (9/13/18)
- Advocates President Cathy Chase’s Testimony to Submitted to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Highways and Transit Subcommittee (9/5/18)
- Over 65 Groups Ask Senate to Keep Driverless Cars out of FAA Bill (7/16/18)
- Groups Urge Senate Committee to Address AV Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities (7/10/18)
- Advocates’ Dr. Shaun Kildare Testifies Before Senate EPW Committee (6/13/18). Press release and Full Testimony
- Local, State and National Stakeholders Representing Diverse Interests Say “Pause” Driverless Car Bill Until Crash Investigations are Complete (5/4/18)