Michigan’s senior U.S. Senator is calling for new federal standards to guide the use of autonomous vehicles in the state and nation.
The ride-share service Waymo is expanding its autonomous fleet to Detroit, and the city is analyzing how to incorporate so-called “driver-less” vehicles in its public transit system.
But U.S. Senator Gary Peters says Congress must ensure there are rigorous safety regulations governing AV’s, and that Michigan auto workers have a fair shot at building them.
“China is investing heavily in dominating the autonomous vehicle market. So I believe it’s absolutely imperative that we take action to ensure that American innovation and American standards lead the way on the world stage, and not China.”
Peters says widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles could greatly improve safety on the highways.
He notes data showing more than 100 deaths on U.S. roads each day.
Experts say the leading cause of traffic fatalities is driver error.
