Skip to main content

Report spotlights safety challenges in era of new technology

According to new report from the US Governors Highway Safety Association, as autonomous vehicles (AV) are merged into traditionally-driven traffic, the most pressing safety challenge for states will be preparing human drivers. This presents a myriad of safety challenges for states, which are responsible for educating the public, licensing drivers, and establishing and enforcing traffic laws. The report, Autonomous Vehicles Meet Human Drivers: Traffic Safety Issues for States, examines these issues and re
February 3, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
According to new report from the US 4948 Governors Highway Safety Association, as autonomous vehicles (AV) are merged into traditionally-driven traffic, the most pressing safety challenge for states will be preparing human drivers. This presents a myriad of safety challenges for states, which are responsible for educating the public, licensing drivers, and establishing and enforcing traffic laws.

The report, Autonomous Vehicles Meet Human Drivers: Traffic Safety Issues for States, examines these issues and recommends how states can prepare for AVs and put traffic safety at the forefront of all policy decisions.

The report provides an overview of the current autonomous vehicle landscape and outlines suggested priorities for state Departments of Motor Vehicles and State Highway Safety Offices as AVs become more widespread.

The report also provides a comprehensive list of resources for additional information and encourages national organisations to help states by developing model laws and public education materials, documenting likely traffic safety scenarios, and establishing a centralized AV clearing house for new information.

Report author, Dr James Hedlund, a former senior official with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says, “The research and media attention given to autonomous vehicles often overlooks the safety implications that a mix of driver-operated and autonomous vehicles will bring. Unfortunately, ignoring the driver side of the equation may negate many of the expected safety benefits.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Enforcement cuts distracted driving dramatically
    April 17, 2012
    The government of Indonesia says it is working to reduce the number of road deaths in the country by 50 per cent by 2020 and by 80 per cent by 2035. To achieve this, the government will be upgrading the road infrastructure as well as introducing a road safety programme that will run over a ten-year and 25-year plans, starting this year. The programme will be overseen by the National Planning Development Board with involvement of the national police as well as the public works, transportation, national educa
  • Amsterdam reaps the reward of digitised parking
    April 20, 2016
    Amsterdam had taken the final step in digitising parking and parking enforcement and the move is paying dividends. It was almost a decade ago that the City of Amsterdam decided to start the evolution - or maybe even a revolution – of its parking enforcement: it got rid of the paper parking permit or ticket behind the windscreen and introduced the digital parking right. It was the first step on a bumpy but successful road to digitization, resulting in a fore running position in on street parking enforcement.
  • Fewer cars - more reckless drivers, says GHSA
    April 22, 2020
    Emptier streets may be a green light for some US drivers to flaunt the law, according to police reports.
  • Driverless Russia: Look – no hands!
    March 26, 2020
    Russia is betting on the importance of driverless cars as the country’s transport system develops in the years to come.