Policymakers need to prioritize the policy initiatives that will have the greatest impact in advancing self-driving technology and speed up what has been a very slow and arduous process if we are not to fall behind other countries.

It’s 2020, the year pundits predicted self-driving cars would be mainstream. But those predictions have proved premature. What happened?

Americans overwhelmingly are excited about the  benefits of self-driving vehicles (SDVs) and driver- assist technology. Last year, a CTA research study found that 70 percent of U.S. consumers want to test a self-driving car.

Self-driving cars, and the technologies that make them possible, were a recurring motif at CES 2017.

Today, cars and cities are inextricably linked, and this will continue as the future is dominated by self-driving vehicles. But the tie-up means both will have to evolve in unison, say experts steeped in autonomous vehicles, smart city technologies and urban studies. To wit: self-driving vehicles must learn to navigate complex environments filled with pedestrians and other obstacles while cities become modified to accommodate them.

To enable future self-driving cars and today’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), automakers have been outfitting vehicles with a growing set of sensors as well as embedded cloud connectivity. 

Not only will self-driving vehicles save lives, they’ll also provide new mobility opportunities to seniors and people with disabilities. Many CTA members are developing self-driving technologies and components, in addition to aftermarket solutions to increase auto safety.

"The growing patchwork of legislation and rules across the country is a significant barrier to testing the full potential of self-driving vehicles. We appreciate the leadership of the House, especially Chairmen Greg Walden (R-OR) and Bob Latta (R-OH), Ranking Members Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI), in establishing a clear direction about the proper roles of state and federal governments in regulating self-driving cars.