<\/p>\n
Autonomous vehicles are just around the proverbial corner, and when\u00a0the technology hits the streets in big numbers it will bring with it\u00a0revolutionary ideas about mobility, including educating drivers about\u00a0how self-operating cars work and how to operate them safely.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Department of Transportation is getting ready for that day\u00a0when streets and highways see\u00a0a mix of autonomous and conventional driver-operated vehicles as\u00a0the norm, a situation that will require research and oversight on safety\u00a0issues (for drivers and occupants), drivers\u2019 tests, licensing, regulation,\u00a0and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s National Highway Traffic\u00a0Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines self-driving vehicles as,\u00a0\u201cthose in which operation of the vehicle occurs without direct driver\u00a0input to control the steering, acceleration, and braking and are\u00a0designed so that the driver is not expected to constantly monitor the\u00a0roadway while operating in self-driving mode.\u201d In fact, NHTSA defines\u00a0five levels of vehicle automation, from \u201cNo-Automation,\u201d where the\u00a0driver is in complete control of the car at all times, to \u201cFull Self-Driving\u00a0Automation,\u201d where the car performs all the critical driving functions\u00a0for an entire trip.\u00a0Monitoring this breakthrough motoring activity will necessitate\u00a0thorough explanations and understanding of vehicle features and\u00a0capabilities, where, how and under what conditions they can be\u00a0driven and other considerations, with the aim of reducing highway\u00a0crashes and deaths. And the phenomenon will also require\u00a0interaction between manufacturers, regulators and communities\u00a0nationwide.<\/p>\n
Enter NHTSA, and 10 designated \u2018proving grounds\u2019** to encourage\u00a0drivers to \u2018get to know\u2019 and test out autonomous cars, to speed up\u00a0standardization of national self-driving laws, and to share information\u00a0and a collaborative spirit among everyone embracing the next-big-thing in driving.<\/p>\n
** City of Pittsburgh and the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania<\/p>\n
Transportation Institute<\/p>\n
Texas AV Proving Grounds Partnership<\/p>\n
U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center<\/p>\n
American Center for Mobility (ACM) at Willow Run<\/p>\n
Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) & GoMentum Station<\/p>\n
San Diego Association of Governments<\/p>\n
Iowa City Area Development Group<\/p>\n
University of Wisconsin-Madison<\/p>\n
Central Florida Automated Vehicle Partners<\/p>\n
North Carolina Turnpike Authority<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Autonomous vehicles are just around the proverbial corner, and when\u00a0the technology hits the streets in big numbers it will bring with it\u00a0revolutionary ideas about mobility, including educating drivers about\u00a0how self-operating cars work and how to operate them safely. The U.S. Department of Transportation is getting ready for that day\u00a0when streets and highways see\u00a0a mix […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":107,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n