NHTSA Opens GM and Nuro Autonomous Vehicle Petition to Public Comment
On March 15, 2019, the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that automated vehicle petitions from Nuro and General Motors (GM) are advancing to the Federal Register for public review and comment.
“The Department is actively seeking public comment on proposed exemptions to federal standards and how the public can be protected as new transportation technologies emerge,” said US Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.
Manufacturers must submit a petition to NHTSA to apply for a temporary exemption if a proposed new vehicle does not comply with all existing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). There is an exemption cap of 2,500 vehicles per manufacturer. These standards were developed when all vehicles had human drivers and automated vehicle technologies were not yet anticipated.
“The Department will consider all comments in order to keep public safety a priority while also fostering innovation,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Heidi R. King.
The final date to submit public comment has not yet been published, but will be available on the Federal Register.
