Can Self-Driving Car Companies Really Self-Regulate?

Feb 05,2018

Last September, the NHTSA put out a safety program for automated vehicles. The agency recommended a 12-point safety assessment for self-driving car companies. However, the safety assessments are voluntary, and so far only one company has published a safety report.

The one company that has put out a safety report is Waymo (formerly Google’s self-driving car project). The lack of response from companies testing self-driving cars raises concern over the effectiveness of the NHTSA’s safety guidelines.

California Boasts Stricter Guidelines for Self-Driving Car Testing

Fortunately for Californians, all companies testing their vehicles in California must obtain a permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles. They must also file crash reports within 10 days of an incident, and submit an annual report if their technology failed in some way.

“The companies testing these self-driving cars are failing to prove the safety of their programs to the public, and this should be a concern for consumers,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

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DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.