Taking a cue from President Obama's autonomous car plan mentioned in his final State of the Union, Anthony Foxx, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, has announced the government's latest transportation initiative: to not only invest $4 billion over the next 10 years to get driverless cars on the road, but to make it the norm.
In an official statement issued by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration in conjuction with DOT, Foxx unveiled the intended fast-track plan to "accelerate the development and adoption of safe vehicle automation through real-world pilot projects." The funding was framed in POTUS' 2017 budget proposal, which would provide capital for "pilot programs to test connected vehicle systems in designated corridors throughout the country," with help from partners such as car manufacturers and other industry leaders.
The secretary was quick to list the merits of the innovative automotive technology, which, if you want to use CES as a touchstone, will see a banner year in 2016. Among them, Foxx named green initiatives to lower carbon emissions.
"We are on the cusp of a new era in automotive technology with enormous potential to save lives, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and transform mobility for the American people," Foxx said. "Today's actions and those we will pursue in the coming months will provide the foundation and the path forward for manufacturers, state officials, and consumers to use new technologies and achieve their full safety potential."
In conjuction with this announcement, NHTSA and DOT also released an updated policy guide, expressing an effort to standardize safety regulations for autonomous vehicles, and "to eliminate obstacles that would prevent or delay technology innovations from realizing that safety potential."
Via: Tech Crunch
Photo: Ed and Eddie | Flickr
