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US looks to set safety “behavior” standards for autonomous vehicles
NHTSA plans to seek public and industry input on “behavioral competencies,” with performance tests aimed at objective standards covering scenarios like construction zones and school-bus stops.
The Trump administration, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is working on new safety requirements for how autonomous vehicles should behave on the road, with officials targeting finalization before the end of President Donald Trump’s current term, according to Jonathan Morrison, the agency’s top official, in an interview reported by Insurance Journal.
NHTSA said it initially will seek comments from the public and industry stakeholders to identify “behavioral competencies” for self-driving cars, alongside tests meant to measure performance. The agency’s goal is to craft objective standards so manufacturers can determine with certainty whether their vehicles meet the requirements.
The move comes as recent incidents have drawn attention to gaps in self-driving behavior in situations human drivers commonly handle. Insurance Journal notes that Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo recalled thousands of vehicles and suspended freeway operations after its cars drove through construction zones at speed, and the company has faced scrutiny for failing to slow or stop for school buses.
NHTSA said it will continue handling specific safety incidents through its existing recall and enforcement authorities, while also working to address concerns about autonomous vehicles interfering with first responders. Morrison said the agency plans to meet with developers in coming weeks and called for a clear standard that such behavior is not acceptable.