NAMIC: Proven Safety Needed Before Giving AVs Control

Autonomous vehicles carry the potential to greatly reduce crashes and improve mobility access, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies said today, but the government must provide safety-focused regulations to ensure that goal is met as AVs take to U.S. roads.

In testimony submitted to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, NAMIC outlines the property/casualty insurance industry’s principles for AV regulation, focused on proven safety that can foster trust for consumers and innovation by manufacturers.

“We applaud the committee for holding today’s hearing on autonomous vehicles, which present an extraordinary opportunity to reduce both crash frequency and severity,” said Jimi Grande, senior vice president of federal and political affairs for NAMIC. “But, for many Americans, AVs need to prove they’re safe before we’ll take our hands off the wheel. As Congress sets the rules of the road for AVs, rigorous oversight and proper validation of safety and data are needed to instill confidence in autonomous vehicles, enabling faster, better, and more affordable transit options that improve the lives of many citizens who currently struggle with mobility.”

As the case for safer AV technology is made over time, NAMIC testified that regulators can and should review existing rules and consider rescinding those that don’t make sense for evolving technologies. However, Grande said, that should not extend to those areas where states have authority.

“There will still be crashes, especially in the immediate future where AVs share the road with human drivers,” Grande said. “A crash between any combination of AVs and humans will likely involve multiple insurance policies, raising complicated, difficult, and fact specific liability questions. And when that happens, states and localities know best what works for their roads, driving populations, and state courts, and must retain the authority to define and address AV liability issues.”