Consumer Watchdog: Don't be fooled by robot car hype

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Jan. 7, 2015) — Consumers and regulators should not be fooled by the autonomous vehicle hype coming out of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week, the group Consumer Watchdog warned.

“Robot car advocates are putting a glitzy spin on their ‘autonomous' technologies,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project director. “The fact is that while some emerging technologies may promote safety, self-driving robot cars are not remotely ready for deployment on public highways without a steering wheel and pedals so a human driver can intervene when necessary.”

Regulators appear to be emphasizing safety as they develop regulations and policies covering autonomous vehicles, according to Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest group. It urged them to “continue a deliberate approach that emphasizes safety and not yield to corporate pressure.”

California currently has regulations covering testing robot cars on the state's highways, requiring a driver behind a steering wheel capable of taking control. Last month the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issued draft regulations for the general use of robot cars on California's roads that will also require a driver behind the wheel capable of taking control.

According to Consumer Watchdog, Google — which is testing 53 robot cars in California and Texas — said it was “gravely disappointed” and California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the “draft regulations may prove too onerous, create road blocks to innovation, and may ultimately drive the development of this promising industry to other states.”

“It's imperative the DMV continue to put public safety first, and not cave to corporate and political pressure,” Mr. Simpson said. The department will hold public workshops to discuss the draft rules on Jan. 28 in Sacramento and on Feb. 2 in Los Angeles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also is pledging to emphasize safety as it updates its two-and-a-half year old policy paper on automated vehicles, Consumer Watchdog said, noting that NHTSA Secretary Anthony Foxx called for the update last month.

In response, Consumer Watchdog was prompted to warn NHTSA: “Do not put the interests of the robot car developers ahead of the public's safety in the face of ongoing pressure from self-driving robot car manufacturers like Google, which has promised a vehicle without a steering wheel or brake pedal.”

In a letter to Consumer Watchdog, Nathaniel Beuse, NHTSA associate administrator for vehicle safety research, responded: “Your cautionary remarks are well taken. Safety is and will be NHTSA's top-priority.”

Consumer Watchdog said that 11 companies — Volkswagen Group of America, Mercedes Benz, Google Inc., Delphi Automotive, Tesla Motors, Bosch, Nissan, Cruise Automation, BMW, Honda and Ford — are approved to test robot cars on California roads.

To view the California DMV's autonomous vehicle page, click here.

Consumer Watchdog's letter to NHTSA can be accessed by clicking here.

To read NHTSA's letter to Consumer Watchdog, click here.