Automation ‘national dialogue’ tour’s next stop at University of Michigan

Federal regulators continue to seek public input on how to implement rules and safety regulations governing commercial vehicle drivers in a potentially driverless future.

According to a notice in the Federal Register, the next chance for public comment will be at a listening session from 1-3 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 19, at the University of Michigan’s Mcity research auditorium in Ann Arbor.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will host the event, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s ongoing “national dialogue” on highway automation. The agencies are seeking feedback from truckers, shippers, logistics professionals and other commercial vehicle stakeholders on regulations that may need to be updated changed or eliminated to allow for the safe introduction of automated driving systems on the nation’s roadways.

One of the regulations that may potentially need to be changed is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation requiring a trained driver behind the wheel at all times, regardless of autonomous technology within the vehicle. FMCSA is reconsidering that position.

The notice states that the listening session “will provide interested parties with an opportunity to assist the agency’s future rulemaking efforts by sharing their views on the FMCSRs as they relate to the development and safe integration of ADS (automated driving systems).”

In March, FMCSA put out a request for public comment regarding regulatory “barriers” for autonomous trucks. The request for comment followed a September 2017 issuance of voluntary guidance on autonomous vehicles from the U.S. DOT that applied to passenger vehicles.

The notice states that FMCSA will provide the public with all relevant details and the opportunity to register for this meeting here. Information about this listening session can also be found at the U.S. DOT’s website.