Lent, Kohne, Schaffner Article on DOT, White House Guidance on Autonomous Vehicles Published by Law360

“Autonomous Vehicle Guidance Gives Industry Room To Grow,” an article by cybersecurity, privacy and data protection co-head Natasha Kohne, infrastructure and transportation head Susan Lent and litigation counsel Diana Schaffner, has been published by Law360.

The article discusses the issuance of version 4.0 of guidance on the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AV 4.0) by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the White House’s National Science and Technology Council.

The authors write that AV 4.0 “outlines the U.S. government’s enterprise-wide involvement in AV policy and development, with the objective of signaling that the United States wants to be on the cutting edge of AV research, development and manufacturing.” It also details current U.S. government efforts to research, develop and deploy AVs and other related technologies and stresses federal commitment to leadership in AV development and integration.

The central part of the article outlines AV 4.0’s 10 guiding principles organized into three core interests: protect users and communities, promote efficient markets to ensure rapid deployment of AV technologies, facilitate coordinated efforts among stakeholders.

The authors also discuss what they describe as “several key areas of U.S. government involvement in the AV sector through three key areas”: fundamental research, enabling activities, resources for AV innovators.

They conclude by noting that “AV 4.0 sets the stage for coordinated, cross-agency federal AV efforts to come. The new guidance makes clear that the White House views its role as central to those efforts, and that it welcomes industry involvement.”

To read the full article, please click here.