Huge news from NHTSA today! They’re launching the ASCEND consortium, a cooperation agreement with SAE to expedite the development of data-driven AV performance standards. Their top priority is to inform and accelerate corresponding FMVSS standards. “Many of the regulations were designed when no one envisioned a vehicle without a human driver, and therefore require or reference manual controls.” “This means that the technology of the future is often tethered to the regulations of the past. So we are working diligently on much-needed FMVSS updates to account for new designs enabled by automated driving systems, without compromising safety.” Their ADS performance rulemaking will provide federal leadership by delivering an AV competency standard that will hopefully address inconsistent state and local requirements. Vehicles like the Tesla Cybercab are being held back by old laws and standards that no longer make sense, and NHTSA is well aware. It’s great to see them taking this initiative quickly.