AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST November 2019

Waymo wants barriers down

Safety Of Self-Driving Cars Questioned

Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Google parent Alphabet Inc., has asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remove regulatory barriers for self-driving cars that do not have steering wheels or brake pedals, according to a Reuters report.

But Waymo still wants NHTSA to ensure the safety of those cars on the road.

Automakers currently must meet nearly 75 auto safety standards for self-driving cars, many written under the assumption that a licensed driver is in command of the vehicle using traditional controls.

NHTSA should first work on addressing those safety standards that assume a human is behind the wheel before revising rules to address alternative seating configurations, Waymo said in a letter to the agency. That will “enable the timely deployment” of vehicles without manual controls.

NHTSA is also grappling with how and where to test self-driving cars to assure they are safe, according to the Reuters report. The agency is considering whether to use simulations or external remote controls in testing. Many automakers plan remote controls to pilot autonomous vehicles through factories or onto trucks.

The AMA objects to the deployment of automated vehicles that do not properly detect and appropriately respond to motorcycles, other nearby vehicles or pedestrians.