Automated Driving Systems 2.0 Listening Session Readout

Washington, D.C. —The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is committed to the safe testing and deployment of automated vehicles and today hosted a listening session to seek input regarding Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety, released last month. A Vision for Safety answers calls from industry, State and local governments, safety and mobility advocates, and the public to lay the path for the safe deployment of automated vehicles and technologies. 

The session kicked-off with opening remarks by NHTSA Acting Administrator Heidi King, who emphasized the importance of a collaborative effort among all stakeholders as the voluntary guidance is implemented. King expressed appreciation for all stakeholders taking part in the Listening Session and offered both NHTSA’s and the Department’s readiness to help entities, States, and the public in this important next step. 

Stakeholders provided verbal remarks to NHTSA staff regarding both sections of A Vision for Safety, Voluntary Guidance for Industry and Technical Assistance to States. Several stakeholders, such as the American Association of People with Disabilities, Blinded Veterans Association, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, SAFE, Auto Alliance, Global Automakers, and the American Trucking Associations, to name but a few, offered remarks.

More than 150 people attended the session in person, with many more participating in a LIVE webcast. The Listening Session allowed the disability community, safety advocates, industry, and the public an opportunity to provide public comments. Organizations represented included the Blinded Veterans Association, American Association of People with Disabilities, National Federation of the Blind, National Downs Syndrome Society, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, American Motorcyclist Association, Consumers Union, Center for Auto Safety, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, Auto Alliance, Association of Global Automakers, Ford, SAFE, Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, American Trucking Associations, Consumers Union and the Association of Global Automakers.

The comment period for Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety ends November 14. NHTSA will be taking comments from the meeting into consideration along with the public comments in the docket as the agency moves forward with implementation of the voluntary guidance. 

Interested individuals may submit public comments at Regulations.gov (Docket NHTSA–2017–0082) or sent to NHTSA at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Telephone: 202–366–9826.  

For feedback specific to the Voluntary Safety Self-Assessment, public comments should be submitted at Regulations.gov (Docket NHTSA-2017-0086) or sent to the physical address provided above. The comment period closes on December 18, 2017.