After auto innovators requested for the speedy government approval of self-driving cars in the United States, engineers and safety experts replied that these are not yet fully ready.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) previously intended to launch the self-driving cars over a period of six months, but the Association of Global Automakers believes that a slower integration is proper. The group added that there are dangers in hastening the issuance of standards and regulations covering the new kind of vehicles.
CBS writes that generally, new regulations can take about eight years to issue, since these involve procedural safeguards. According to Paul Scullion of the Association of Global Automakers, thoroughness may be sacrificed if the government tries to speed up the process to catch up with technology.
Mark Rosekind, administrator at NHTSA, stated that the fast issuance of regulations is necessary because early self-driving technologies are already being used by vehicles at present. Some of these include safety features such as emergency braking and automatic steering to keep cars in their respective lanes. The regulations should already be released because car makers and innovators continue to introduce new technologies without guidance.
At the meeting hosted by the NHTSA, some of the risks associated with self-driving cars include poorly marked pavements, because self-driving cars depend on clear lane markings. Other potential problems include inconsistent traffic control devices, bad weather, the inability to be guided by traffic enforcers, software issues, sudden disengagements where the technology would suddenly turn over control to the driver, and even the potential of being used as a weapon. There might even be a need to include car sensors that can detect hazardous materials to stop vehicles that may be transporting weapons of mass destruction.
Washington Post notes that thousands of drivers are not fully aware of the technologies and automatic functions of their vehicles. One study showed that a large percentage of drivers have experienced their vehicle acting in a strange or unexpected manner. Aside from the issuance of federal regulations, driver education is important to maintain safety on roads. Experts stated that more lives can be saved with the proper regulation of self-driving vehicles.
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama already proposed a program for automated technologies, valued at $3.9 billion and to be spread out over 10 years. The project includes a wide-scale pilot release of self-driving cars throughout the U.S.
More updates and details on self-driving cars are expected soon.
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