Manufacturing Subcommittee on Commerce

Disrupter Series Manufacturing Subcommittee on Commerce

Self-driving cars have the promise to be the most significant automobile related safety development in our lifetime. In 2015, automobile related fatalities increased to around 35,000, the first rise in nearly a decade. The vast majority of automobile fatalities are related to human behavior. Truly self-driving cars are not ready to be deployed and adopted in great numbers, but the sooner they get to market, the sooner lives will be saved. In addition to safety, self-driving cars promise a reduction in fuel emissions and energy consumption as a result of improved mobility and more efficient traffic flows. Self-driving vehicles may also allow for more efficient land use instead of wasting resources on parking in city lots. We can also expect to see an increase in transport and mobility opportunities such as ride-hailing and rise-sharing services; opportunities for labor cost savings; improved transportation access for disabled, elderly, and underserved populations; and other enhancements that improve the societal and economic welfare of communities across the country.