RE: Waymo7 Nov 2018 21:23
Experts Push Third-Party Checks
Automakers aren’t doing anything comparable to what the FDA does now, Reimer points out. He’s calling for a public-private partnership made up of those in the industry, independent researchers, and regulators to set standards and evaluate data from companies making AVs.
Reimer has proposed a plan under which companies would provide data that can be verified by independent researchers before states and the federal government give approval for any AVs.
Consumer Reports has recommended that testing data be shared with public and federal regulators, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and state governments, all of which are responsible for safety on the highways.
“The bigger picture is that self-driving technologies are moving really fast, and they have significant potential to improve safety and mobility,” says William Wallace, a policy analyst in Washington for Consumers Union, the advocacy division of Consumer Reports. “But we’re concerned that companies may be racing to be the first instead of racing to be the safest.”
Phil Koopman, an engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University who specializes in testing automotive software, backs a similar concept. Regulators and automakers should be working toward a system where companies deploying new technology submit data to a third party that performs some sort of independent verification, he says. That’s the model used by industries with safety-critical missions, such as aviation and chemical plants, Koopman says.
“In every case, we’re relying on the designers to tell us that they did it right,” he says. “There are no external checks and balances. Waymo’s going to deploy these vehicles, and we’re basically taking their word for it that it’s safe.”
Sign In
Follow the stocks
