Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • War in Ukraine
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • ITEC
    • Silicone
    • Online Exclusive
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Sustainability
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
  • Airless Tires
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • Healthcare Elastomers Conference
    • Rubber In Automotive Conference
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive
November 21, 2019 03:36 PM

Confusing tech terminology, lack of safety rules big themes of federal meetings on AVs

Alexa St. John
Automotive News
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    WASHINGTON — Between the National Transportation Safety Board's meeting Nov. 19 and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's meeting Nov. 20, two themes emerged on the industry's challenges regarding AVs: A lack of federal testing standards and confusing technology nomenclature.

    At its meeting, the NTSB detailed its findings on the probable cause of the 2018 crash of an Uber autonomous vehicle in Tempe, Ariz., that killed pedestrian Elaine Herzberg. The board also issued recommendations for AV testing standards.

    The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the crash was the failure of the safety driver, who was distracted by a cell phone, to "closely monitor the road and the operation of the automated driving system." The board says inadequate risk assessment procedures, ineffective oversight of vehicle drivers, and "a lack of adequate mechanisms for addressing operators' automation complacency" also contributed.

    Wednesday's Senate committee meeting considered a few more topics regarding deployment of highly automated vehicles, including cybersecurity, infrastructure and changing the regulatory framework that currently allows AV developers' voluntary self-assessment of technologies.

    This week's developments have industry experts reiterating the need for federal safety standards for automated technology.

    "The federal government is actively encouraging a corporate laboratory experiment where real people are unknowingly being used as crash dummies," Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said in a statement. "The federal government has done nothing to provide AV safety oversight in the 18 months since Elaine Herzberg's death from a self-driving test car was caused by Uber's inadequate safety culture. If not now, when?"

    Inconsistent terminology

    Senators addressed another issue with advanced driving technologies Wednesday: a lack of consistent terminology. Several senators questioned how the National Highway Traffice Safety Administration would educate consumers to understand what advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, and autonomous vehicle technologies are capable of.

    James Owens, acting administrator of NHTSA, put much of the onus on manufacturers.

    "We encourage all developers to make their consumers aware of the limits of their technology," he said, addiong that adopting a common nomenclature and standards would be key for the public.

    In a January report, AAA found that consumers are faced with as many as 20 names for one ADAS feature, adaptive cruise control. Auto makers have 19 names for lane-keeping assistance and 19 for blind-spot warning systems, AAA found.

    In conjunction with Wednesday's hearing, AAA, Consumer Reports, the National Safety Council and J.D. Power jointly announced an agreement to adopt common naming for ADAS technology.

    "By adopting common terminology across systems, consumers will have a better understanding that this technology is intended to assist and not replace an engaged driver," the organizations said in a statement.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Synthos to resume butadiene rubber production at German plant in March
    2
    Rubber board urges stabilization of NR prices
    3
    Trelleborg: U.K. investigation of TWS deal ‘normal procedure'
    4
    Michelin's hydrogen partners: 4 things to know about Symbio's stakeholders
    5
    Asahi Kasei settles Michigan PFAS lawsuit, agrees to clean up pollution
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Rubber Division IEC
      • War in Ukraine
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • ITEC
      • Silicone
      • Online Exclusive
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Blogs
        • Products
        • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Sustainability
    • Airless Tires
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • Healthcare Elastomers Conference
        • Rubber In Automotive Conference
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION