AMA Board Adopts Automated Vehicle Position

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The AMA Board of Directors has issued a new position statement urging government agencies and elected officials to include motorcyclists in the ongoing discussion, planning and implementation of policies and regulations governing the expansion of automated-vehicle technology.

The official position statement, titled “Automated Vehicles and the Safety of Motorcyclists,” was adopted in August.

“Failure to specifically address motorcycles in statutory and regulatory language amounts to the abandonment of motorcycle safety by legislators and regulators,” the position statement reads. “Essentially, the issue of distracted and inattentive driving will mushroom into a monumental hazard for motorcyclists when flawed AV technology enters the transportation mainstream.”

“This new position statement is an essential element in the association’s continuing efforts to convince regulators, technology companies and automakers to ensure that automated vehicles fully and effectively identify and properly respond to motorcycles in all traffic situations,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “We have been pursuing that goal since long before developers and manufacturers began testing these new technologies, and we will be redoubling our efforts as more companies put AVs into service on public roads.”

The AMA recognizes that some features being developed and tested may result in a reduction in the number of crashes and injuries involving motorcyclists. However, no mandate is in place to require that motorcyclists are included in the discussion or that motorcycles be specifically addressed during the development of detection devices and software.

“The AMA now calls upon the president and Congress to immediately direct the appropriate federal agencies to implement automated-vehicle policy and guidelines to improve and ensure the safety of motorcyclists,” the position statement reads.

The full text of the “Automated Vehicles and the Safety of Motorcyclists” position statement is under

“Rights” at www.americanmotorcyclist.com.