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This rulemaking would seek public comment on the means to assess the safety performance of vehicles equipped with ADS. NHTSA anticipates ultimately identifying ADS behavioral competencies that will require assessment via tests that are objective, practicable, and repeatable. Such tests are expected to address, among other things: (1) the concept of operations for ADS operations; and (2) the operational areas under which ADS would be the sole driver of an ADS-equipped vehicle. NHTSA will also identify metrics to predict and to track safety outcomes associated with each behavioral competency, and methods and means of assessment.

To date there is no uniform approach to assess the safety performance of ADS-equipped vehicles intended to operate on U.S. public roads. Currently, ADS entities must navigate a patchwork of State laws and regulations to deploy ADS-equipped vehicles. This rulemaking will provide Federal leadership on the safety performance of ADS-equipped vehicles. A uniform ADS safety performance assessment approach encourages American innovation and ADS development and promotes continued safe operation of ADS-equipped vehicles on U.S. public roads.