By Paul Brubaker
Progress toward self-driving cars has accelerated dramatically over the last couple of years, and somewhat predictably, controversy has been right in the rear-view mirror.
The arguments for self-driving vehicles are profound and well-documented. More than 35,000 people will die on America’s roads this year and numerous studies agree, human error will be a factor in 90% of them. It’s a national health crisis, yet Americans remain cynical about putting the wheel in the hands (or processors) of computers.
Aside from a massive reduction in crashes, self-driving vehicles presents hope to millions of people who just don’t have mobility options.
It’s about time we make self-driving a national priority – it is already making news everyday and is the economic, society and health conundrum consuming those fascinated by the prospect of someday sitting behind the wheel, whether for the first time ever or first time in years.
The Trump Administration has a blueprint for self-driving success at its fingertips. Recently, my organization, The Alliance for Transportation Innovation, issued a National Strategic Framework to Advance Life-Saving Self-Driving Vehicles that outlines eight key challenges that must be overcome. Among them, organizing the federal departments and agencies together to get cars with the technology on the road – safely.
I am the father of a 16-year-old on the autism spectrum. For him, a self-driving car offers the promise of freedom to learn, work and live a fulfilling life. I’m also a baby-boomer knowing that in the current mobility landscape, my kids, at some point will have to consider when for my own safety, it’s time to take away my keys.
AARP executive Jody Holzman confirms his organization is bullish on self-driving vehicles. “Cars represent freedom, mobility and independence,” he told me. “With 10,000 people turning 65 each day, it’s clear that self-driving autonomous vehicles can play an important part in keeping seniors safe, active and engaged in their communities and provide them the mobility they need.”
Simply put, it is time to change the narrative about self-driving vehicles.
For the underserved, the hundreds of thousands of Americans who will die and the millions more who will be injured in the coming years, we must accelerate the path to self-driving.
Paul Brubaker is the President and CEO of the Alliance for Transportation Innovation. He served under President George W. Bush as the second Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and Deputy CIO and the U.S. Department of Defense.
