Self-driving cars may still be several years away, but federal officials are already looking to restrict the ability of drivers to operate their cars to improve road safety. They're pushing for the adoption of new technologies to reduce human error.
"Auto safety regulators are pushing for new equipment to protect motorists from their biggest threat: themselves," writes Jerry Hirsch. "They're aiming to keep drunk drivers off the road with the help of onboard technology that immobilizes their cars. New vehicles may soon come with systems to help prevent collisions. And engines may not start unless occupants buckle their seat belts."
But a similar initiative - a seat-belt monitoring system mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the mid 1970s - was rolled back in response to public backlash. And Jeremy Anwyl, an automotive industry consultant and former chief executive of Edmunds.com, "suspects renewed efforts by government to keep tabs on driving behavior will elicit a similar outcry."
"People won't like the idea that all of a sudden they are no longer completely in control," he said. "They might not buy a new vehicle and instead just keep the car they have."
FULL STORY: Auto safety initiative seeks to reduce driver errors

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
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