Skip to main content

ITS America applauds US DOT decision to accelerate automated and connected vehicle projects

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s (ITS America) President and CEO Regina Hopper has applauded the announcement by US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx that the Obama Administration has proposed US$4 billion over 10 years for automated and connected vehicle pilot projects that accelerate vehicle safety technologies. Secretary Foxx also announced that the US DOT is removing potential roadblocks to the integration of innovative, transformational automotive technology that can signific
January 15, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s (560 ITS America) President and CEO Regina Hopper has applauded the announcement by US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx that the Obama Administration has proposed US$4 billion over 10 years for automated and connected vehicle pilot projects that accelerate vehicle safety technologies.

Secretary Foxx also announced that the US DOT is removing potential roadblocks to the integration of innovative, transformational automotive technology that can significantly improve safety, mobility, and sustainability.

“We are on the cusp of a new era in automotive technology with enormous potential to save lives, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and transform mobility for the American people,” said Foxx.  “Today’s actions and those we will pursue in the coming months will provide the foundation and the path forward for manufacturers, state officials, and consumers to use new technologies and achieve their full safety potential.”

The President’s FY17 budget proposal would provide nearly US$4 billion over 10 years for pilot programs to test connected vehicle systems in designated corridors throughout the country, and work with industry leaders to ensure a common multistate framework for connected and autonomous vehicles.

Hopper said, “ITS America applauds Secretary Foxx and the Administration for accelerating the adoption of advanced vehicle technologies, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication that will significantly reduce traffic fatalities and injuries and ensure America continues to lead in automotive and transportation innovation.

“Automated and connected vehicle technologies will save thousands of lives each year and bring us closer to our goal of zero deaths on America’s roads.

“Congress took a critical step in the FAST Act to encourage innovation and support the deployment of these and other Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).  This announcement represents the collective commitment of the transportation, technology and highway safety communities to tackle the challenges and harness the opportunities before us to transform safety and mobility in America.”

Secretary Foxx also unveiled policy guidance that updates the 834 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 2013 preliminary policy statement on autonomous vehicles.  The new guidance, released today, reflects the reality that the widespread deployment of fully autonomous vehicles is now feasible.

“NHTSA is using all of its available tools to accelerate the deployment of technologies that can eliminate 94 per cent of fatal crashes involving human error,” said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind.  “We will work with state partners toward creating a consistent national policy on these innovations, provide options now and into the future for manufacturers seeking to deploy autonomous vehicles, and keep our safety mission paramount at every stage.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • A natural fit
    May 18, 2012
    Xerox Chairman and CEO Ursula Burns will deliver the keynote address at today’s opening plenary in Fort Washington. Two years after leading the company’s $6.4Bn acquisition of ACS, Burns provides some insights into Xerox’s expanding role in the transportation sector.
  • FTA seeks to increase oversight of transit systems
    August 17, 2015
    The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is seeking to increase oversight of the nation's public transportation systems after a spate of issues on the Washington, DC, Metrorail system and other subways have raised questions about US transit safety. The USDOT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has proposed a rule to establish a Public Transportation Safety Program under its new safety oversight authority established by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. The proposed rule would
  • Spectrum sharing plan triggers concerns in US
    March 1, 2013
    A group of leading industry professionals has written to the US National Telecom­munications & Information Administration (NTIA) to ask for a rethink, following the announcement by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that the 5.9GHz band is to be opened up for spectrum sharing. The group, led by ITS America president and CEO Scott Belcher, includes senior academics, automotive manu­facturers, ITS system suppliers and a number of US state departments of transportation such as those of Michigan, Texas
  • Transportation innovator joins ITS America
    December 19, 2013
    Transportation innovator Leo McCloskey has joined ITS America as senior vice president for Technical Programs, where he will manage the Association’s contract work with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and other public sector, private industry and research partners. McCloskey will lead ITS America’s Technical Programs group and direct the organization’s research, standards, and other technology-driven initiatives. He joins ITS America from telematics technologies and connected vehicle services s