Securing America's Future Energy

SAFE Commends Collaboration Between Uber and State of Arizona on Driverless Car Testing on Public Roads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Leslie Hayward
Number: 202-461-2364

Washington D.C.—Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) commends the collaboration between Uber Technologies and the State of Arizona for their work in advancing autonomous vehicles. The deployment of Uber’s self-driving cars on Arizona’s roads is made possible through the signing of Executive Order 2015-09 supporting “the testing and operation of self-driving cars in Arizona with an emphasis on innovation, economic growth, and most importantly, public safety,” and ordering the Department of Transportation and other state agencies to “undertake any steps necessary to support the testing and operation of self-driving vehicles on public roads within Arizona.”

“Arizona is taking a strong lead on supporting this critical industry, and we applaud the leadership of Governor Ducey,” said SAFE President and CEO Robbie Diamond. “Only through robust testing on public roads will we realize the full benefits of driverless cars. Arizona and Uber are setting a great example for how government and industry can collaborate to advance this technology for the benefit of the entire country. SAFE encourages states to provide and enhance opportunities for testing, development and eventual deployment of autonomous vehicles.”

SAFE is actively leading policy efforts at the federal and state level on autonomous vehicle technology, testing and deployment. Earlier this year, SAFE’s Commission on Autonomous Vehicle Testing and Safety released a suite of best-practice recommendations for industry and government to advance driverless car deployment efforts while maximizing safety and improving public trust. In 2016, the SAFE Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC), a group of senior retired military officers and CEOs committed to reducing U.S. oil dependence for economic and national security reasons, released A National Strategy for Energy Security: The Innovation Revolution. This document provides a comprehensive strategy for policymakers with concrete recommendations that can strengthen our nation’s energy security.

Included in SAFE’s National Strategy are a complete set of recommendations for the advancement and adoption of autonomous vehicles. This technology offers the potential to deliver transformative benefits—significantly reducing America’s oil demand while saving thousands of lives and expanding mobility access for millions—without the need for overly-burdensome regulation at the federal or state level.

 

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.

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