A USA TODAY Network survey of nearly a dozen states hoping to lead the way in autonomous vehicles reveals varying degrees of readiness across the nation
Self-driving vehicles are synonymous with sophisticated sensors producing terabytes of data being analyzed by powerful computers. But it seems the success of this transportation revolution hinges on a decidedly low-tech material: Paint.
That’s because when it comes to getting the nation’s infrastructure ready for autonomous traffic, the most critical upgrade amounts to making sure the lines on our 4 million miles of roads are solid, bright and preferably white so they can be picked up by computer vision gear.
“The (self-driving car companies) actually said make sure you have really good paint lines,” says Kirk Steudle, director of Michigan’s Department of Transportation. “So, where there are lines, we have to make sure they’re really good.”
If only things were that simple. A USA TODAY Network survey of nearly a dozen states hoping to lead the way in self-driving cars and trucks reveals varying degrees of readiness as officials balance anticipating a huge shift in mobility with a reluctance to spend limited infrastructure funds on the wrong improvements.
That one-foot-in, one-foot-out stance is echoed in guidelines recently published by the Governors Highway Safety Association.
In doling out advice for state officials on the coming age of self-driving cars, the recommendations balance action (“Be a player in your state”) with caution (“Be flexible, this is a new game”.)
While some states such as California, Michigan, Arizona and Ohio are eagerly welcoming self-driving vehicle tests and beginning to make upgrades to roads to accommodate robot-driven vehicles, others are taking a more measured approach given the nascent state of the industry.
“I want to see the manufacturers succeed, because my ultimate goal is to ensure public safety on the road,” says Mark Kopko, manager of advanced vehicle technology for Pennsylvania’s DOT.
Two factors make it difficult for states, however eager, to dive headlong into concrete infrastructure improvements, whether that’s painting lane stripes or embedding sensors in roads and traffic signals.
The first is a lack of national vision for autonomous vehicles. During his fall campaign, President Trump promised to spend upwards of $1 trillion on infrastructure needs. But so far there is no road map for securing such funds or determining how they’ll be deployed or whether self-driving car-related work will be included.
The Obama administration set out proposed guidelines for how companies can effectively self-regulate. U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said this month in Detroit that the Trump administration is “reviewing and updating this policy to incorporate feedback and improvements recommended by numerous stakeholders.”
Read more of the original article at USA TODAY.
