The US lends further support to autonomous cars


The document contains 116 pages and 15 points with recommendations from the US Government

autonomous cars are just around the corner, but before being able to move freely with or without a driver, it is necessary that there be a regulation at multiple levels: design, approval, sale, circulation, delineation of responsibilities…

it Is imperative that this phenomenon is regulated

The current regulation does not allow the vehicles to circulate without a driver on public roads, and supported tests of prototypes that can drive themselves, as long as there is a driver to take control at any time.

The White House and the NHTSA have published the foundations of what will be the rules governing autonomous cars in the united States, a country called to lead in the implementation of autonomous cars on the roads. Are recommendations, of time are not binding.


Given that over 90% of accidents occur through the fault of the human factor, the US Government sees the autonomous car as a tool to save thousands of lives each year, and that can make travel more safe, productive and comfortable (taking the time).

the US is not shown to the contrary, or that the vehicles can move empty, so yes, there should be a series of guarantees. On vehicles with controls regulate the different levels of intervention. In extreme case the car will be able to come to a complete stop, as when you do not have a driver or are not capable of.

lays the foundation to strengthen the security of the system at all levels, starting by the user, it can record data of their tours but always respecting the privacy and with the aim of improving the system, to determine an accident or collaborate with other vehicles connected to a data network.


In the end, if the accident is inevitable, the vehicle shall produce the minor possible damage to third parties and to the occupants. It is assumed that sometimes there will be difficult decisions, in scenarios in which someone will come out hurt for sure, but who, and in what degree?

All of these sections will end up becoming law required compliance. Due to the political system of that country, some rules apply at the federal level (in all states) and others will be more local, such as states or counties. In any case the vehicle always comply with the regulations depending on where you are.

The text is structured around the maximum safety for the vehicle occupants and third parties. Manufacturers are already working hard in that it is a secure system, to create confidence and the people with access to use it. For example, the autonomous functions may be prohibited in some places, without manual control does not allow the movement.


Photo: Ed and Eddie (Flickr) CC BY SA

the united States is today one of the leading laboratories of large-scale testing for autonomous cars, and it comes from long, starting with the competitions of autonomous cars that was funded by the Government (through DARPA) and involving manufacturers, universities, etc

The authorities considered inevitable arrival of the driving autonomous and are working collaboratively with the manufacturers to create a legal framework that is satisfactory to all parties. Ford, Google, Delphi… they are doing many miles with their prototypes for this to be a reality in the next decade. Yes, California time do not want to empty cars.

in the meantime, the manufacturers offer to their customers systems ADAS (aid to the driver) and in the end wizards that allow the driver to relax part of your comentido, with the obligation to keep track of what the vehicle is doing. This week has taken a step forward, one more, but one very important.