Autonomous vehicles (AVs) will change personal mobility. In addition to the obvious safety benefits, AVs can provide accessible transportation options for seniors and individuals with disabilities, reduce traffic congestion and create new jobs and supply chains.
When will AVs be on roads in large numbers? The biggest obstacle to that goal is not technology and not a lack of corporate investment. Government is the biggest obstacle. A federal regulatory framework with oversight and a commitment to move beyond testing to more (and faster) commercial deployment is what is needed now.
Policymakers should:
- Update existing motor vehicle rules to accommodate AVs
- Raise the cap on the number of AVs able to operate at a time
- Launch a national AV pilot or demonstration program