GM Watching Policies that Pave the Way for Safe Self-Driving Vehicle Testing

Motor vehicle fatalities increased about 8 percent during the first nine months of 2016 compared to fatalities during that time in 2015, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This marks the eighth consecutive quarter in which fatalities have increased. Previous data has shown that more than 90 percent of highway fatalities are the result of human error. Self-driving technology is more than just a business priority for General Motors; it is an opportunity to save thousands of lives.

In June of last year, GM began testing self-driving Chevrolet Bolt EVs on public roads in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the challenging urban center of San Francisco. In December, after the enactment of legislation authorizing deployment of self-driving vehicles in Michigan, GM announced it would begin testing in Metro Detroit.

GM is working to gather statistically significant safety data from these test vehicles to prove the company’s self-driving vehicles are ready to operate without a human driver. GM then plans to deploy self-driving vehicles within carefully defined parameters and boundaries through controlled ridesharing projects.

In 2017, more than 20 other states are also considering legislation regarding self-driving vehicles.

GM is a strong advocate for state and federal policy that would pave the way for self-driving vehicle testing and deployment that puts safety as the forefront of any policy language considered. GM’s priority is, and always will be, the safety of passengers and fellow road users.

GM asks that legislature pass language that strikes the balance between fostering innovation and protecting public safety. Elected officials will steer this process and their positions are impacted by constituent voices.

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