NHTSA Extends Public Comments on General Motors and Ford's Autonomous Driving Petitions

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Thursday extended the deadline for public input on petitions from General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Ford Motor (NYSE:F) requesting the use of a limited number of self-driving vehicles without human control.

NHTSA Extends Public Comments on General Motors and Ford's Autonomous Driving Petitions. The 30-day extension was made at the request of the automakers after several cities, including San Francisco and Oakland, as well as state transportation agencies, the National Association of City Transportation Officials and others, asked for more time to analyze the exemption requests. San Francisco said the petitions raise "numerous complex technical and policy issues concerning vehicle safety that require significant analysis." And it noted that "to date, it is the site of the most intensive testing of automated vehicles". As such, we have valuable insights to offer and will be significantly impacted by the outcome of the petition." Both automakers want to introduce 2,500 vehicles a year, the maximum allowed by law. These vehicles will be steering wheel-less and pedal-less and will be used primarily for ride-sharing and delivery services. In 2018, GM petitioned the NHTSA to allow a vehicle without a steering wheel and brake pedal to hit US roads. In late 2020, GM withdrew its petition. With the development of technology, the usability and safety of autonomous vehicles is a matter of debate. Like robots used in mass production, automated vehicles could replace drivers.