DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Attorney and traffic safety expert Amy Witherite warns that at least eight companies have announced they are operating or plan to operate driverless 18-wheelers on Texas highways. As autonomous truck operations expand along busy and often congested corridors of I-35, I-45, I-10, and throughout the metro areas around Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, Witherite says the stakes could not be higher.
While issues have been reported with many types of autonomous vehicles, trucks pose a more significant danger due to their size and weight. As with deaths in large truck crashes, most of the injuries occurred to occupants of other vehicles (70%), followed by truck occupants (27%) and non-occupants (3%), according to the National Safety Council.
Because each company announces its plans separately, there may not be public awareness of the extent of the testing or dangers posed. Amy Witherite, an expert in trucking safety issues, is warning of the danger and calling for independent, third-party safety testing and certification before driverless trucks are allowed on the state’s busiest roads.
Texas is moving toward limited new oversight, but even these regulations will not take effect until sometime next year. Until then, Texas remains one of the most permissive states in the nation for autonomous vehicle testing, similar to the certification systems used in aviation for commercial trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds.
Even after the new rules take effect, there is no indication that Texas will require independent, third-party testing to verify that autonomous trucks can operate safely in the often dangerous and unpredictable environments posed by some of Texas’ most congested highways. Each company continues to rely on its own proprietary technology, its own engineers, its own internal definitions of safety and its own judgment about when its systems are ready for real-world use.
“Most Texans don’t realize that driverless autonomous trucks are already on our highways, right next to families on their way to work, school, or weekend trips,” warns Witherite. “Right now, Texans are sharing the road with unproven, experimental systems.”
Witherite cautions that the trucks now being tested are new, closely monitored vehicles.
“A brand-new autonomous truck being carefully monitored and maintained will be very different if the trucks stay on the road in regular operation over time,” said Witherite. “What about that same vehicle after years of heat, vibration, rain, dust, sensor degradation, and routine wear and tear? No one can tell us how these systems will perform after real-world aging. That’s a dangerous experiment on Texas families who never agreed to participate.”
Witherite warns the promise of automation has not been proven:
“We have not seen enough credible third-party evidence that autonomous systems can safely replace a trained human driver, especially in emergencies. Until that day comes, Texans deserve higher standards and real accountability.”
Witherite is urging state leaders to adopt a model similar to aviation, where every new aircraft design must undergo rigorous, independent testing before carrying passengers.
“More people die on Texas highways each year than in airplane crashes nationwide. We hold aviation to the highest standards because lives are on the line. Texans deserve the same protection before 40-ton driverless trucks become common on our roads.”
“This is something to think about before you set off for work or take a road trip with your family. Let’s get safety right before we hand over our highways to vehicles that drive themselves.”
Contacts
Media Contact:
Margulies Communications Group (MCG)
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