OPINION:
American innovation thrives when bold entrepreneurs challenge perceived limits. From the assembly line that transformed manufacturing to the internet that revolutionized commerce, our greatest technological leaps have happened when visionaries refused to accept the status quo. We are a nation of innovators, and in order to maintain that reputation, we must embrace the bold, new frontier of autonomous vehicles (AVs) that promise to fundamentally transform transportation, enhance safety, and secure America’s competitive edge for generations to come.
Autonomous vehicles mean autonomous people; they can completely transform the way we view transportation. Consider the extra hours gained for leisure and productivity during the daily commute or reclaimed family time in the car during long vacation drives. Americans with disabilities gain newfound mobility. Seniors enjoy more freedom and independence. Areas without public transportation systems become increasingly accessible. AVs can revolutionize freight and shipping with more options and lower costs. The list goes on.
More than 40,000 Americans lose their lives each year in traffic accidents, with human error accounting for the vast majority of these tragedies. Fortunately, early AV deployments show significantly lower accident rates than human-operated vehicles in comparable conditions. The technology to reduce these preventable deaths dramatically exists today. Outdated regulations that presume a human driver have stalled real breakthroughs in both widespread adoption and next-generation vehicles.
While American companies pioneered AV technology and maintain current leadership, our international competitors are closing the gap. Countries that once looked to Detroit for automotive leadership now see an opportunity in America’s hesitation. Most notably, China has ramped up its AV programs, ushering in legitimate questions about what threat AVs manufactured by the Chinese Communist Party could pose to our national security.
The economic implications are also staggering. America’s automotive sector employs millions of workers and pumps hundreds of billions of dollars into our economy annually. AVs represent the next phase of this vital sector, one that could either strengthen American manufacturing leadership or, if we fumble, drive lucrative production overseas to greener pastures.
Wyoming’s geography uniquely equips our state to exploit AV’s potential. Our expansive highways, weather patterns, low population density, and lighter traffic loads create ideal conditions for developing and testing self-driving technology. Rural states could serve as proving grounds for systems that can endure extreme conditions and transport people across longer distances.
In 2016, a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) report identified over 30 vehicle regulations that presume a human driver. Automotive regulations require manufacturers to include a steering wheel and brake pedals, specify mirror locations and seating configurations, among other things. These requirements severely restrict vehicle design, even though they are obviously superfluous in an AV. The laws and regulations have changed little in a decade. This must end.
Last month I introduced the Autonomous Vehicle Acceleration Act. My legislation requires DOT to update these regulations so the United States can move forward with commercial scale deployment of AVs. Safety is also paramount, and the bill keeps that front and center. By requiring DOT to address specific barriers identified in its own report, we can jumpstart advancement without compromising safety standards. The goal is not to rush untested technology to market, but to break through administrative inertia.
Additionally, my bill recognizes that regulatory fixes alone will not usher in a new era of transportation. The bill requires DOT to craft a roadmap for the future for commercial scale AV Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous systems vehicles requiring minimal to no human intervention. The roadmap does not prescribe a particular technology or approach but would lay out all the practical considerations involved in achieving it. Importantly, American industry drives the innovation, not Washington, D.C.
America stands at a crossroads. We can embrace AV technology through thoughtful regulations we set ourselves and maintain our leadership in automotive innovation, or we can take a passive stance and let other nation’s capture the markets and manufacturing jobs that come with technological leadership.
Are we still the nation that seizes transformative opportunities, or have we become too risk-averse to embrace this new frontier of uncharted transportation advancement? The AV movement will not wait for our regulatory agencies to catch up. History will judge whether we chose to embrace progress or paralysis when the future of transportation beckoned. Let’s ensure we choose wisely.
• Sen. Cynthia Lummis was sworn into the Senate in 2021, becoming the first woman U.S. Senator from Wyoming. She serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
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