NHTSA Proposes Streamlined Review for Self-Driving Vehicle Exemptions

(Reuters) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed a new process on Friday to streamline reviews of exemptions filed by automakers seeking to deploy self-driving vehicles without required human controls like steering wheels or brake pedals.

NHTSA has the authority to grant petitions allowing up to 2,500 vehicles per manufacturer to operate on U.S. roads without these human controls. However, the agency has spent years reviewing several petitions without taking action. Efforts in Congress to facilitate the deployment of vehicles lacking human controls have faced prolonged challenges.