Schakowsky, Castor, Trahan Call on NHTSA to Strengthen Standing General Order
WASHIGNTON – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member on the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Lori Trahan (MA-03) sent a letter calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to eliminate the expiration date and strengthen the Standing General Order (SGO).
“The Standing General Order (SGO) 2021-01 issued in June 2021 is a good first step, and we urge you to take further action at a time when far too many lives are lost on America’s roads each year,” wrote the lawmakers. “The SGO expires in 2024 and a change in leadership at NHTSA could result in the SGO being rescinded.”
New data obtained from the SGO found that from July 2021 to January 2023, at least 18 crashes resulting in a fatality involving an Automated Driving Systems (ADS) or Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
“It is essential that NHTSA continues to collect and evaluate data involving these technologies to keep the public safe,” continued the lawmakers. “Furthermore, stakeholders, including the public, must have the opportunity to review this data without unnecessary opaqueness which can significantly hamper its usefulness.
The lawmakers are calling on NHTSA to strengthen the SGO on three general topics: data integrity, transparency, and compliance.
- Data Integrity
- Crash reports must include all known data while preserving privacy.
- NHTSA should establish performance standards for, and require all new vehicles to include, driver monitoring systems that will minimize driver disengagement, prevent automation complacency, and account for foreseeable misuse of L2+ automation systems.
- Transparency
- NHTSA needs to reevaluate its process for determining what information should be redacted from crash narratives and other publicly available information and should provide additional context for the data to ensure it paints a reliable picture for the public.
- Compliance
- NHTSA should regularly review and update the list of companies subject to the SGO and ensure their compliance with its requirements.
The lawmakers are requesting a response from NHTSA by March 30, 2023, detailing actions the agency will take to strengthen the SGO.
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