Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., plan to announce legislation Sept. 28 that would pave the way for increased innovation in self-driving vehicle technologies.
“We have reached agreement on a bipartisan path forward for Senate self-driving vehicle legislation,” Tune and Peters said in a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee statement. “While this Senate self-driving vehicle legislation still has room for further changes, it is a product of bipartisan cooperation we both stand behind. Ultimately, we expect adoption of self-driving vehicle technologies will save lives, improve mobility for people with disabilities, and create new jobs. We look forward to sharing the details of our proposal tomorrow, and working with our colleagues to advance the bill.”
The House passed a bill on autonomous vehicles, titled the SELF DRIVE Act, two months ago that aims to advance the safety of consumers while reaffirming the role of government and increasing opportunities for autonomous vehicle research and development. The SELF DRIVE Act received similar bipartisan support to the Senate bill.
“Self-driving cars hold the promise of making America’s roads safer, creating new economic opportunities, and helping seniors and those with disabilities live more independently. The SELF DRIVE Act strikes the critical balance of enhancing consumer safety while promoting the continued development of this cutting-edge technology,” said Reps. Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Bob Latta, R-Ohio. “This bipartisan bill paves the way for advanced collision avoidance systems and self-driving cars nationwide, and ensures that America stays a global leader in innovation.”
The unnamed Senate bill is scheduled for committee markup on Oct. 4.
