Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Autonomous Vehicles Testing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tech group warns that restrictions on autonomous vehicle testing could slow safety and accessibility gains
Summary
A Chamber of Progress representative urged the committee to oppose H.1280, saying restrictive rules on autonomous vehicle testing would hinder innovation, delay safety benefits and reduce mobility for underserved communities.
A representative speaking for Chamber of Progress told the committee the group opposes H.1280, saying “placing unnecessary and restrictive rules on where and when autonomous vehicles can be tested risks hindering innovation and delaying the deployment of AVs in Massachusetts.”
The witness cited federal crash data to argue autonomous vehicles could reduce fatalities: “The National Highway Traffic Safety Association or NHTSA released crash data reporting nearly 43000 lives were lost in a traffic related fatality in 2022.” The witness also said Massachusetts saw a 7.3 percent increase in roadway fatalities between 2023 and 2024, with 368 traffic-related deaths.
To support broader mobility and safety claims, the speaker referenced a 2023 study that found autonomous ridesharing services in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix experienced “57% fewer police reported crashes [and] 85% fewer crashes involving injuries compared to human drivers,” and said nationwide deployment of AVs could have prevented thousands of traffic deaths in recent years. The witness also argued AV deployment could expand mobility for people with disabilities and underserved neighborhoods and asserted AVs can be up to 20% more fuel efficient, citing Southwest Research Institute.
The Chamber representative urged the committee to oppose H.1280 so testing and deployment would not be delayed; the transcript contains the witness’s arguments but does not record committee action on the bill.
