On the Dash:
- NHTSA sent a letter to autonomous vehicle developers about driverless cars interfering with emergency responders
- Officials called the behavior a danger to the public, comparing it human drivers who would face fines for similar violations
- NHTSA plans to meet with developers by the end of the month to hear solutions
The U.S. Department of Transportation is putting autonomous vehicle developers on notice. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Jonathan Morrison issued a public call to action Wednesday, telling autonomous vehicle companies to move fast on a pattern of driverless cars interfering with first responders.
In a letter sent to the industry, Morrison said NHTSA has identified a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and other first responders.
“An AV that cannot safely interact with first responders is a danger to the general public,” Morrison said.
He compared the issue to human drivers, noting that people who impede emergency operations face fines and even jail time. You can read the full letter here.
The agency said it has documented cases of autonomous vehicles driving directly into active emergency scenes. Some blocked ambulances and firefighters from reaching where they needed to go. Others failed to recognize basic warning signs, including flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire and traffic cones.
NHTSA said it plans to meet with driverless AV developers by the end of July to hear their solutions. The agency said it will continue to exercise its enforcement authority against developers who don’t address safety concerns, adding that public trust on the roads is earned, not given.
The call to action comes as NHTSA has moved to ease several vehicle safety standards to speed AV deployment under the Trump administration’s AV Framework, including proposed changes to rules on transmission shifting, windshield systems, braking and vehicle lighting.
