The government is cutting red tape to allow for a quicker approval process of autonomous vehicles
- The NHTSA is streamlining the Part 555 exemption to speed autonomous vehicle development.
- The changes will enable faster approval by considering the unique characteristics of AVs.
- This could allow companies to offer cars without steering wheels, mirrors, or driver controls.
Autonomous vehicles could save countless lives, but a number of companies have thrown in the towel after years of development. Part of this can be chalked up to red tape and a lengthy approval process.
The Trump administration is now doing something about it as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced plans to streamline the Part 555 exemption process. The government says this will “accelerate the safe development of automated vehicles.”
More: GM Gives Up On Cruise, Ends Robotaxi Push
As U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained, “The Part 555 exemption process has been rightly criticized for taking years – bogging developers down in unnecessary red tape that makes it impossible to keep pace with the latest technologies.” That appears to be a reference to the ill-fated Cruise Origin, which was abandoned late last year.
However, that wasn’t supposed to be the case. Quite the opposite as the Federal Register shows GM petitioned the NHTSA for a temporary exemption from six safety standards on February 17, 2022.
The automaker argued the driverless pod should be exempt from some rules that were not necessary due to the Origin’s design and performance. As an example, GM noted the fully autonomous vehicle didn’t need mirrors or a gear display. Despite some of this being common sense stuff, Cruise was forced to wait an eternity.
The changes to the Part 555 exemption process were detailed in a letter to stakeholders, which noted the method was designed for traditional vehicles. The NHTSA confessed it was “not well suited for processing exemptions involving ADS-equipped vehicles in a timely manner or overseeing the unique complexities involving their operations.”
To address the issues, the government focused on areas that have “especially prolonged review times.” Among the changes are enhanced application instructions as well as a “more dynamic and flexible approach to evaluating and overseeing exemptions for ADS-equipped vehicles.”
While the changes should help, the process would still allow manufacturers to sell up to 2,500 vehicles annually that do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. This includes vehicles without traditional steering wheels, driver-operated brakes, or rearview mirrors.
However, companies “must demonstrate that their vehicles provide an equivalent safety level as compliant vehicles and that the exemption is in the public interest.”
NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said the changes will “advance innovation by supporting the commercial deployment of purpose-built automated vehicles that can satisfy safety requirements.” He added the government is working to “modernize” safety standards for automated vehicles, but exemptions will play an integral role in the meantime.
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