Robotaxis cleared for driverless operation as regulators adapt rules

Federal regulators are advancing rules that could allow robotaxis to operate without traditional manual controls, such as steering wheels, and potentially even brake pedals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed updating regulations to accommodate evolving autonomous vehicle technology.

Amazon's fully autonomous Zoox vehicles have secured approval to begin charging passengers for rides. This follows their operation of free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since last year. The distinctive, boxy vehicles feature four inward-facing seats. While passengers like Chloe Huu from Ann Arbor, Michigan, found the experience "really cool and chilling" after adjusting to the initial "scary" feeling, some noted issues with fluctuating wait times that made planning difficult.

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It's kind of scary at first, but when I just got used to it, it's really cool and chilling. I really liked the music and how you can adjust the temperature.

NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison stated the agency aims to update regulations to match these advanced vehicles while ensuring safety. He noted that many existing safety regulations were written decades ago, assuming a human driver. Morrison suggested that features like steering wheels, windshield wipers, and side-view mirrors might not be necessary for fully autonomous vehicles.

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If you're going to be developing a standard in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, nobody at that time had this imagination, nobody had a crystal ball that you might have technologies that would enable the vehicle to drive itself.

However, safety concerns persist. The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety group has questioned Zoox's plan to operate without standard controls, citing a lack of detailed evidence for safe operation on public roads. Peter Kurdock, the group's general counsel, expressed concern over "lots of promises" and "glossy language" without sufficient supporting data.

Morrison acknowledged the potential for autonomous vehicles to eliminate human errors like distracted or drunk driving. Nevertheless, robotaxis have encountered problems, including stopping unexpectedly in roadways or struggling with parking lot maneuvers. NHTSA has investigated incidents involving autonomous cars and has issued recalls and calls to action.

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Lots of promises, lots of glossy language, lots of 'We believe, we think we'll do this.' Yet there really was no data behind the promises, and that's really concerning to us.