DETROIT – As President Joe Biden’s term is nearing its end, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has introduced a set of voluntary safety guidelines for autonomous vehicles. However, it appears that these guidelines will not be finalized before Biden exits office in January, leaving the decision to the next administration, potentially under Donald Trump.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has been appointed by Trump to assist in leading a newly proposed “Department of Government Efficiency,” aimed at cutting costs and regulations. Musk has expressed interest in contributing to the development of safety standards for self-driving cars, despite the fact that any regulations he helps create would directly impact Tesla’s own automated driving technologies.

Currently, there are no explicit federal regulations governing self-driving vehicles; instead, states are responsible for their oversight. Nonetheless, these autonomous vehicles must comply with general federal safety standards applicable to all passenger cars. According to the recent proposal, automakers and companies involved in autonomous driving can enroll in a program that mandates the creation of safety plans and the submission of certain data while operating on public roads.

To qualify for this program, companies must provide independent evaluations of their safety practices for automated vehicles. Additionally, they would be required to report any crashes or issues that arise with their vehicles. Under this proposal, businesses must relay detailed information regarding the safety aspects of their vehicle design, development, and operational performance to NHTSA, which will determine which companies can participate in the program.

However, some advocates for auto safety argue that the proposal does not adequately address the essential regulations needed for self-driving vehicles. Critics have pointed out that the guidelines overlook establishing specific performance standards, such as the number and types of sensors required or the vehicles’ ability to navigate in poor visibility. Missy Cummings, an expert in autonomy and robotics, expressed her disappointment, calling the initiative “a big bunch of nothing,” and stating that it ultimately serves as an ineffective bureaucratic exercise.

Michael Brooks, who heads the Center for Auto Safety, acknowledged that one positive aspect of the proposed guidelines is the requirement for companies to report crash data and any related issues. With discussions suggesting that the Trump administration might eliminate a NHTSA directive mandating crash reporting, Brooks voiced his belief that the new administration would likely introduce a revised version of these guidelines.

NHTSA will open the floor for public commentary on this proposal for approximately 60 days. Following this period, the guidelines will undergo the federal regulatory process, which can extend for several months or even years. The agency has indicated that the objective of this initiative is to enhance understanding of autonomous vehicles and pave the way for future regulations.

The framers of the proposal emphasized the need for Automated Driving System (ADS) technology to be utilized in ways that safeguard the public by minimizing safety risks while still facilitating the responsible progression of this innovative technology. Although NHTSA acknowledges that future regulations may necessitate the establishment of minimum performance standards for self-driving vehicles akin to those for traditional cars, they currently lack the data to support such requirements. Thus, the initiation of these voluntary guidelines is perceived as a starting point for gathering the necessary metrics.