Autonomous Interference: A Crisis of Safety by Design The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a stern directive to developers of self driving cars, citing "a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and other first responders.
" This interference not only imperils public safety but also raises fundamental questions about the limits of autonomy. The federal agency's letter is not an idle warning.
With its emphasis on "functional insufficiency," NHTSA signals a willingness to hold companies accountable for their products' performance in emergency situations.