Washington, D.C.—Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), today commented on the California Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) release of finalized rules governing autonomous vehicles (AVs).

“Regulating autonomous vehicles is one of the major challenges governments face today. California has made real progress since first undertaking this task in 2012, but the extended process reinforces the importance of federal leadership in regulating AV safety,” said Amitai Bin-Nun, SAFE’s Vice President of Autonomous Vehicles and Mobility Innovation.

“California has taken important steps to provide clarity and allow industry to move forward with technology that will save lives, increase U.S. energy security and provide greater access to all Americans—especially those with disabilities and others who face barriers to transit. We look forward to continuing our work with California as it implements AV technology on its roadways; SAFE also urges the state to move expeditiously to allow the testing and deployment of trucking automation as it will prove critical to safety and economic growth,” Bin-Nun continued.

Currently 92 percent of the U.S. transportation system is powered by oil. AVs are expected to lower fuel consumption by improving vehicle efficiency through improved traffic flow and optimized routing, in addition to improving fuel choice and undermining oil’s monopoly as a transportation fuel by facilitating a shift towards advanced transportation fuels such as electricity and natural gas.

SAFE is working at the state and federal level to advocate for a unified, clear, and modern regulatory framework to enable the safe and expeditious deployment of automated cars and trucks on the nation’s roadways.

About Securing America’s Future Energy

Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization that aims to reduce America’s dependence on oil. Near-total dependence on petroleum in the transportation sector undermines the nation’s economic and national security, and constrains U.S. foreign policy. To combat these threats, SAFE advocates for expanded domestic production of U.S. oil and gas resources, continued improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency, and transportation sector innovations including electric vehicles, natural gas trucks, and autonomous 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 (Ret), 34th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.
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