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Republicans Push New Autonomous Vehicle Reform

By Eric Tanenblatt and Crawford Schneider
September 23, 2020
  • Autonomous Vehicles
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Today, Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) reintroduced the SELF Drive Act. The bill, which was previously introduced and passed in the House in 2017, is intended to create national standards for the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles. The bill would require cybersecurity provisions for AV manufacturers, reorganize, rewrite or exempt certain federal motor vehicle safety standards, and pre-empt states from passing new AV safety laws. In a joint statement with Representative Greg Walden (R-OR), Latta reminded his colleagues that the United States remains in a fierce competition with China over primacy in the AV market. The legislators also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for AVs to support vulnerable populations.

Currently, the industry relies on a patchwork of state laws without federal testing and deployment standards and while most view a federal law as ultimately necessary, consumer advocacy groups—like the Center for Auto Safety—criticize the SELF Drive Act for lacking “regulatory or testing requirements to improve public confidence in the long-term safety of driverless vehicles.”

Originally, in 2017, the House of Representatives passed the SELF Drive Act with almost a dozen Democratic co-sponsors; however, the bill died in the Senate, due to Democratic concerns over consumer safety, data security and liability. The current bill has no Democratic co-sponsors and Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell, an advocate for the industry, stated that the bill will not be approved this year. She continues to believe that “urgent action” is needed, but suggested that the bill is already outdated. In response to Latta’s new push, Dingell said that she has a commitment from the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to prioritize a new bill next year.

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Eric Tanenblatt

About Eric Tanenblatt

Eric Tanenblatt is the Global Chair of Public Policy and Regulation of Dentons, the world's largest law firm. He also leads the firm's US Public Policy Practice, leveraging his three decades of experience at the very highest levels of the federal and state governments.

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Crawford Schneider

About Crawford Schneider

Crawford Schneider is an associate managing director in Dentons' Public Policy and Regulation practice focusing on matters involving state and local government affairs, including legislative/regulatory research and drafting, land use and zoning, economic development, public-private partnerships, public policy surrounding disruptive transportation, and international trade and investment.

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