The following statement is attributed to Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA), regarding the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s markup of legislation addressing self-driving vehicles:

“We thank Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Jan Schakowski (D-IL) for their bipartisan leadership in bringing this bill to markup. At CTA, we’re looking forward to working with the entire committee to help deliver this critical, life-saving technology to American roads.

“We greatly appreciate that the committee recognizes the importance of a ‘technology-neutral’ approach – this allows new innovators to join the field and, ultimately, bring us safer, more efficient transportation as effectively as possible. With any bill addressing self-driving technologies, it’s critical to clarify the federal and state governments’ respective roles and ensure that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues to have responsibility for vehicle safety. Also, increasing the number of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) exemptions for OEMs, suppliers and technology companies is essential if the U.S. is going to lead the world in developing and implementing self-driving technology and revolutionizing the auto industry and how we travel.

“Self-driving vehicles will save tens of thousands of lives each year on American roads and bring undreamed of freedom to seniors and people with disabilities. The sooner we have self-driving vehicle legislation in place – laws that balance safety and innovation – the sooner these technologies will begin to radically change our lives for the better.”

According to CTA’s Self-Driving Vehicles: Consumer Sentiments, the vast majority of consumers are excited about the benefits of self-driving vehicles, and almost two-thirds want to swap their current cars for completely self-driving vehicles.

CES 2017 was the world’s showcase for the latest in automotive technology, with a Self-Driving Technology Marketplace and more than 300 auto tech companies including BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen.