U.S. DOT Releases Pair of Autonomous Vehicle Plans

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Monday released the "Automated Vehicles Comprehensive Plan" (AVCP), with stated goals to "promote collaboration and transparency, modernize the regulatory environment, and prepare the transportation system for the safe integration of Automated Driving Systems (ADS)," according to a U.S. DOT press release.

"This comprehensive plan lays out a vision for the safe integration of automated vehicles into America’s transportation system while ensuring that legitimate concerns about safety, security, and privacy are addressed," according to a statement from Secretary Elaine L. Chao, whose controversial resignation from the position became official on the day the AVCP was announced.

The AVCP builds on previous work by the U.S. Government to prepare for autonomous vehicles, outlined most recently in "Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies: Automated Vehicles 4.0" (AV 4.0), released earlier this month for attendees of the all-digital CES confab. An article by David Shepardson provides insight into the AV 4.0 document, quoting former Secretary Chao disparaging the approach of the Obama administration to autonomous vehicle regulation.

"The 51-page 4.0 policy document released [on January 8] says the U.S. government will adopt and promote 'flexible, technology-neutral policies that will allow the public, not the federal government or foreign governments, to choose the most economically efficient and effective transportation and mobility solutions,'" writes Shepardson.