The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials today praised the U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for their support for life-saving connected vehicle technology.
Former AASHTO President and Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle, a national expert and leader in traffic safety and connected vehicle technology, said that “today’s announcement by NHTSA officials is a positive step for our ultimate goal of delivering the safest and most efficient transportation system imaginable.”
Steudle added, “This is a significant announcement for the future of safe mobility and a day that will lead to great reductions in traffic fatalities. USDOT should be commended for its leadership and vision.”
Steudle, who recently represented AASHTO before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit hearing on connected vehicle technology, highlighted three additional points:
- Connected vehicle technology holds the promise of a future in which we move around our communities in accident-free vehicles.
- State DOTs look forward to working with the research community, automakers, and federal officials to further the research, development and testing required to fully implement autonomous vehicle technology.
- The continued strong support and cooperation between state transportation departments, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and global automakers will be critical to the successful and rapid deployment of the safest possible vehicles and transportation infrastructure.