Self-driving cars get a boost after US regulator removes requirement for humans to be in control
Removing, or adapting, the US highways regulations so that self-driving vehicles no longer need any form of human control or input is a major step in the future of mobility.
Key takeaways
- Automakers and tech companies have faced significant hurdles to deploying Automated Driving system (ADS) vehicles without human controls because of safety standards written decades ago that assume people are in control.
- The new rules, which were first proposed in March 2020, emphasise automated vehicles must provide the same levels of occupant protection as human-driven vehicles.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2022) 'Self-driving cars get a boost after US regulator removes requirement for humans to be in control', 311 Institute, 18 March. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/self-driving-cars-get-a-boost-after-us-regulator-removes-requirement-for-humans-to-be-in-control/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
While US generals said they will never “take the human out of the loop” when it comes to the future of warfare and the development of fully autonomous and intelligent weapons systems in the transportation sector it’s an entirely different story after US regulators last Thursday issued final rules eliminating the need for automated vehicle manufacturers to equip fully autonomous vehicles with manual driving controls to meet crash standards. And they’re the first regulator to do so.
Automakers and tech companies have faced significant hurdles to deploying Automated Driving system (ADS) vehicles without human controls because of safety standards written decades ago that assume people are in control.
The Future of Mobility, by Futurist Keynote Matthew Griffin
Last month, General Motors and its self-driving technology unit Cruise petitioned the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for permission to build and deploy a self-driving vehicle without human controls like steering wheels or brake pedals.
The rules revise regulations that assume vehicles "will always have a driver's seat, a steering wheel and accompanying steering column, or just one front outboard passenger seating position."
"For vehicles designed to be solely operated by an ADS, manually operated driving controls are logically unnecessary," the agency said.
The new rules, which were first proposed in March 2020, emphasise automated vehicles must provide the same levels of occupant protection as human-driven vehicles.
"As the driver changes from a person to a machine in ADS-equipped vehicles, the need to keep the humans safe remains the same and must be integrated from the beginning," said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Steven Cliff.
NHTSA's rule says children should not occupy what is traditionally known as the "driver's" position, given that the driver's seating position has not been designed to protect children in a crash, but if a child is in that seat, the car will not immediately be required to cease motion.
NHTSA said existing regulations do not currently bar deploying automated vehicles as long as they have manual driving controls, and as it continues to consider changing other safety standards, manufacturers may still need to petition NHTSA for an exemption to sell their ADS-equipped vehicles.
What this means for your organisation
Cabins can be redesigned.
Without steering wheels or pedals, the interior can be built around passengers. That opens new uses for space and time on the move. Product teams should rethink what a car cabin is for.
Safety standards are being rewritten.
Old rules assumed a driver's seat and steering column. New rules keep occupant protection at the same level. Insurers should update risk models for vehicles with no human driver.
Exemptions are still needed.
Makers may still need to petition for exemptions to sell such vehicles. Regulation is moving step by step. Plan launches around the approval timeline.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- How would cars without controls change our products or services?
- How should we assess risk when no human can drive?
- Which regulatory steps must we clear to deploy driverless vehicles?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Removing, or adapting, the US highways regulations so that self-driving vehicles no longer need any form of human control or input is a major step in the future of mobility.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 18 March 2022. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2022). Self-driving cars get a boost after US regulator removes requirement for humans to be in control. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/self-driving-cars-get-a-boost-after-us-regulator-removes-requirement-for-humans-to-be-in-control/
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