Today, Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) lauded the State of Iowa’s decision to entering into an agreement allowing Interstate 380 between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids to be mapped to enable development, testing and eventual use of autonomous vehicles.

In response to the announcement, SAFE President and CEO Robbie Diamond said, “I commend the State of Iowa for its leadership in enhancing transportation technology. This is a very positive action that should help accelerate innovations in mobility that, once underway, will save lives and prevent injuries from car accidents. It will also greatly enhance the freedom and independence of disabled and elderly citizens while improving fuel efficiency and diversity in our transportation sector.”

Diamond continued, “We appreciate your visionary leadership to accelerate the testing of this transformative technology. We offer our assistance to you and your department to help advance development and deployment of autonomous vehicles in Iowa.”

Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) is an energy policy advocacy organization that is leading efforts at the federal and state level to advance the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles.  Earlier this year, SAFE’s advisory panel, the Energy Security Leadership Council (chaired by Fred Smith of FedEx and General James Conway, 34th Marine Corps Commandant) released a comprehensive set of policy recommendations on this issue as part of the group’s National Strategy for Energy Security.

About Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE)

Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) is a nonpartisan organization that aims to reduce America’s dependence on oil in order to bolster national security and strengthen the economy. SAFE advocates for expanded domestic production of U.S. oil and gas resources, continued improvements in fuel efficiency, and in the long-term, breaking oil’s stranglehold on the transportation sector through alternatives like natural gas for heavy-duty trucks and plug-in electric vehicles. In 2006, SAFE joined with General P.X. Kelley (Ret.), 28th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Frederick W. Smith, Chairman, President, and CEO of FedEx Corporation, to form the Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC), a group of business and former military leaders committed to reducing the United States’ dependence on oil. Today, the ESLC is co-chaired by Frederick W. Smith and General James T. Conway, 34th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.