WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports, released the following statement on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s advanced vehicle technologies report: 

“I applaud NHTSA for its commitment to safety and engagement to foster advanced vehicle technologies. This report will help inform our continued work towards a federal framework to safely deploy these technologies and ultimately autonomous vehicles. 

“Tragically, thousands of vehicle accidents linked to human error happen on our roads each and every day – leading to lives lost, serious injuries, and high costs for drivers and families. That’s why it’s more vital than ever that we have federal guidelines in place that ensure safety, provide certainty to automakers and allow advanced safety technology to continue being safely developed, tested, and deployed right here in the United States. 

“I’ll continue working with the Biden administration and auto leaders to ensure the United States is a leader in safe mobility for generations to come, and I applaud Secretary Buttigieg and Administrator Cliff for their efforts to save lives and promote safety on our roads.” 

Peters recently led a letter with his Senate colleagues to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, highlighting how autonomous vehicles have the potential to not only create good-paying American jobs and support existing ones but also to save lives and ensure the United States will continue leading in the future of mobility. Peters also recently discussed automated vehicle technologies with Secretary Buttigieg during a Commerce Committee hearing. 

Peters has repeatedly highlighted the need for a federal framework that allows for the safe deployment of these life-saving technologies. In his field hearing in Detroit this March, Peters examined how Congress can bolster U.S. innovation for electric and autonomous vehicles by increasing domestic production of semiconductor chips and other technologies, while also delivering economic, environmental, and safety benefits for the American people. 

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