By Mike Spector | The Wall Street Journal
Transportation Department trying to head off conflicting local rules and spurring adoption of technologies that could reduce traffic deaths
The Obama administration said companies developing driverless cars should adopt a series of government recommendations to certify their vehicles are ready for U.S. roads, a policy aimed at front-running possible conflicting local rules and potentially reducing traffic fatalities.
The U.S. Transportation Department, in guidelines to be rolled out Tuesday, urges that car makers and other developers submit to a 15-point “safety assessment” outlining how driverless cars are tested, safeguards should systems fail and how vehicles are programmed to comply with existing traffic laws. The guidelines also expect companies to detail plans to prevent vehicle hacking.
