On September 7, 2017 the U.S. House of Representatives approved H. R. 3388, the Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research in Vehicle Evolution Act (SELF DRIVE Act), a bill that would help autonomous vehicle companies introduce more new vehicles on an annual basis while staying focused on safety compliance standards in the process. The speed of autonomous vehicle development will benefit autonomous vehicle technology companies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for asserting these regulations.
Timothy Goodman, former NHTSA assistant chief counsel for enforcement, now a shareholder in the Transportation Safety practice in Babst Calland’s Washington, D.C. office, is closely watching and assessing the pace of regulation for autonomous vehicle manufacturers. According to Tim Goodman, “It’s about striking the right balance, and promoting safety, innovation, and regulatory coherence.” Spending a decade with the U.S. Department of Transportation, including in various legal roles with NHTSA, and since then, Tim Goodman’s background includes working on high-profile motor vehicle safety and related regulatory issues.