QOTD: How Should We Handle AV Rules?

Figures, since such a move might benefit Tesla, and Tesla boss Elon Musk has been at Donald Trump’s side since the election was called. Though, as Matthew Guy notes, General Motors would also likely benefit.

It seems that the new admin would like to see more fully-autonomous vehicles on the road sans steering wheel.

These self-driving car test-mules have been involved in crashes, and now it looks like we’re getting a business-friendly loosening of rules that will allow for more testing but possibly at the expense of real-world damage to life and limb.

At least, that’s how I see it. I am not against fully autonomous vehicles necessarily — though I don’t want to give up the option to drive for myself — but I don’t like the idea of for-profit companies using us a crash-test dummies.

I’d love to see a strong regulatory environment around AVs, but I am wary that this suggested change could benefit Tesla and GM at the expense of the public.

Maybe I am being paranoid, though. What do you think? How best can we regulate the real-world test of autonomous vehicles?