Coalition letter on autonomous vehicles
Speaker Pelosi, Minority
Leader McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader Schumer:
Roughly two years ago, the Coalition for Future Mobility – a group of key
stakeholders that represents a wide cross section of auto manufacturers,
suppliers, repairers, technology companies, mobility providers, state and local
governments, safety and national security groups, consumers, seniors, and
persons with disabilities – was created to highlight the critical need for a
federal framework that allows for the safe development, testing, and deployment
of automated vehicles (AVs) here in the United States. We write to thank those
Members of Congress who were involved in working to pass AV legislation in the
115th Congress and urge
you to continue those efforts this year. Without question, Congress is uniquely
suited to help provide greater clarity regarding both state and federal
authorities that can help when it comes to the safe testing, development, and
deployment of AV technologies.
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that human
choice or error is a factor in approximately 94% of all motor vehicle crashes
on U.S. roads – crashes that took the lives of over 37,000 men, women, and
children in 2017. By facilitating technology that can potentially eliminate
these bad choices and unintentional errors, we can help prevent many crashes
from happening and dramatically reduce injuries and fatalities on our roadways.
While
safety is a critical component in the drive for the development of AVs, these
vehicles can also provide life-changing opportunities for those who are not
adequately served by current mobility options, such as seniors, persons with
disabilities, and those who require more affordable transportation. Further,
the benefits of these vehicles extend to other roadway users. Large-scale AV
implementation could also mean less congestion and greater efficiency on our
roads.
Last Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate recognized the importance of providing a federal framework for AVs. The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan SELF DRIVE Act (H.R. 3388) without a vote in opposition. Shortly after the House acted, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously passed similar legislation. In spite of strong, bipartisan support, legislation was unable to receive floor consideration in the Senate. Our coalition encourages you and your colleagues to redouble your efforts to move forward with legislation that will help improve safety, provide a tech-neutral path forward for private industry to innovate, and ensure clarity for regulators at all levels of government.
The status quo
should not be acceptable. Recognizing the potential of this technology to
positively impact millions of Americans, we urge you to support a federal AV
framework this Congress. Our Coalition members stand ready to work with you.
3M
60 Plus
Alliance
for Transportation Innovation Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers American
Council of the Blind American Highway Users Alliance
American
Network of Community Options and Resources Americans for Tax Reform
Aptiv
Argo AI,
LLC Aurora
Automotive Service Association
Association
for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Association of Global Automakers
Competitive
Enterprise Institute CTIA
Digital
Liberty Harman
Mobileye
Motor &
Equipment Manufacturers Association Narcolepsy Network
National
Association of Manufacturers National Cued Speech Association National
Federation of the Blind National Taxpayers Union
R Street Institute
Securing
America’s Future Energy Segs4Vets
Telecommunications
Industry Association Third Way
U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Tire
Manufacturers Via
What3Words
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
cc: All Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and
U.S. Senators
