AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

摘要

The use of unmanned or driverless vehicles is not as far-fetched or futuristic as one might think. While numerous hurdles remain on the social, technical, legal and political landscape, several auto manufacturers and research firms have proven that the concept is feasible and has many positive economic advantages and applications. Full implementation of AV technology is several years if not decades away, but the time to start addressing the related concerns is now. This is especially true of costly, but requisite, large-scale upgrades to infrastructure, and the determination of legal considerations such as licensing and liability. It is also critical that we close the gap surfacing between states who have demonstrated differing levels of proactivity, by establishing the federal-level government as the lead for coordination of nation-wide infrastructure and policy issues. It will be critical that ground rules are established across the broad spectrum of issues, and that is best coordinated at the federal level. Private-public partnerships will also be a key ingredient in making sure that local and regional interests are met within the broader construct of a federal system. AV use may seem to be very far into the future, but the future for planning and guiding our path forward is now!