U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has met with automakers in Detroit over how the federal government can do in regulating driverless technology, the Detroit News reported on Tuesday.
Automobile and technology companies are competing against one another in developing self-driving cars. But how to keep a balance between new technologies and public safety remains a question.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has so far largely employed a hands-off approach, except some voluntary guidelines issued in last September for companies in this field.
"The pressure is mounting for the federal government to do something," Chao was quoted by the Detroit News as saying.
She added that an updated version of the guidelines will be released before the end of the year, but will still remain voluntary.
In California alone, there are some 30 companies approved for testing self-driving vehicles on the road, up from four in 2014, Some accidents have been reported during the test drivings, prompting experts to call for bringing the new technology to market in the future without harming people in the car and the streets.
"The future of autonomous vehicles is very bright... but we have a responsibility to ensure that the new technology is safe and secure," Chao said.
Latest comments