The automotive industry has been evolving since the first car made its way onto the roads around the 1880s. There were older models, but it was around this time that motoring became a reality.
The last few years have seen huge leaps in innovation in the automotive industry from autonomous driving and advanced driver assist technologies. This leaves regulatory agencies to catch up and, in some cases, to shape laws around emerging innovations.
This guide looks into the most recent innovations in the automobile industry and how these innovations have influenced laws. It can be a good read for staying compliant despite technological advancements.
Autonomous Driving
Autonomous driving is not yet legal on a federal level. However, states have a prerogative on what to allow or not allow on their road. No state is yet to allow autonomous driving in totality. However, many have done some legal patch-ups to allow for autonomous vehicle testing on the roads and limited deployment.
Also, there are different levels of autonomous driving. Levels four and five are the most advanced, meaning the vehicle can operate without human intervention. This type of autonomous driving is not generally legal for general use.
In states where it is allowable, the vehicles are primarily used as cabs and delivery trucks but on a limited scale. However, it is only a matter of time before fully autonomous driving becomes mainstream, with experts claiming they will help reduce human error.
Advanced Features
Most modern vehicles come equipped with a wide range of driver-assist features aimed at safety. The features include advanced driver assist technologies such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and parking assistants.
These features have become standard by default, making newer cars relatively safer. According to the NHTSA, they can save thousands of lives.
The US government will, in five years, require that all new cars have automatic emergency braking. This is the first step into legislation technologies that are part of autonomous driving, and more technology-related laws are likely to be affected in the future.
Data Protection
Car technology requires drivers and vehicles to access sensitive information such as location, speeds, vehicle occupants, etc. This data in the hands of the wrong people can be dangerous.
Data privacy laws apply to other technologies and systems, as well as vehicles, such as the Federal Electrocommunication Privacy Act and the Federal Communications Act.
Also, some specific laws address autonomous vehicles and users, such as the Federal Driver’s Protection Act. States have developed laws to enhance data security, but they lack the comprehensiveness of federal laws.
What Lies Ahead
Considering the last few years’ changes, it makes perfect sense to expect big leaps in the automotive industry and accompanying laws. While the government has to be careful what it allows on the roads, it cannot afford to be too strict in limiting innovation. As such, there is a need to balance regulation and create room for innovation.
It’s also up to vehicle manufacturers and car accessories makers to ensure that they stick to the highest levels of compliance to ensure safety and collaborate with regulatory agencies. The consumer also has a role to play by understanding that the products and accessories they choose for their vehicles may impact their safety and that of other road users.
Final Words
There is evidence of the government’s commitment to promoting technological innovation and its adoption in the automotive industry by its recent move to mandate automatic emergency braking in vehicles.
Also, there is a huge possibility for states that have been reluctant to relax their laws to do so even as vehicle technologies prove safe in the few states that have allowed their limited and controlled use.
