Executives from Waymo and Tesla testified before Congress, facing scrutiny over their self-driving car technology. Lawmakers expressed a bipartisan desire for federal regulation of autonomous vehicles due to the rapid advancements in the industry and the current state-by-state patchwork of safety regulations. Safety concerns and liability questions were central to the discussion, with both companies highlighting benefits while acknowledging the need for improvement.
Executives from Waymo and Tesla faced questions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday amid scrutiny over their self-driving car technology.Currently, there is a state-by-state patchwork of safety regulations on autonomous vehicles .
But Congress is seeking to move forward with legislation that would create national regulations for self-driving cars, which have increased their presence in major U.S. cities in recent years.IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Waymo driverless taxi kills beloved bodega cat, KitKat, in San FranciscoMembers of the Senate Commerce Committee expressed a bipartisan desire for federal action to regulate the industry, saying current laws have not kept pace with technological advancements. Meanwhile, Tesla Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy sought to highlight the benefits of autonomous vehicles, including reducing drunken or distracted driving and reducing traffic deaths.'I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that the next big jump we have in reducing the number from 40,000 to hopefully a day where it's zero is autonomous driving,' Moravy said. 'Simply put, an autonomous driver — the system, the computer that operates it — doesn't sleep, doesn't blink and doesn't get tired.'RELATED STORY | First driverless semi trucks have started running regular routes in Texas, company saysLawmakers acknowledged the promise of self-driving cars but also stressed that safety improvements are needed. They also discussed questions of liability — whether it should fall on a driver or manufacturer in the event of a crash.Officials for Waymo and Tesla said their autonomous vehicles were built to comply with existing federal rules, but those regulations were written decades before self-driving technology became a reality.
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