House Transportation & Public Safety Committee Continues Work Studying Autonomous, Connected Vehicles
Today, State Representatives Doug Green (R-Mt. Orab) and Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) announced that the Transportation and Public Safety Committee is continuing its work studying autonomous and connected vehicles throughout the summer.
The representatives hope to build from the work of the seven-month long study by the committee, which completed hearings earlier this year. The goal was to bring together industry leaders, policy think tanks, and other stakeholders to educate members of the committee and the public on the evolving field of autonomous/connected vehicle technology. The study focused on potential benefits and challenges, how the industry may impact Ohio’s economy, manufacturing, public safety, insurance, and infrastructure; as well as a review of current research, testing, federal regulations, and industry activity in Ohio.
“This report is intended to be an in-depth continuation of our solely fact-finding study committee hearing process,” said Rep. Green. “The General Assembly needs to be informed so that it can first understand how to be a partner of the industry and not stifle innovation. Autonomous and connected vehicle technology is the opening salvo of the next space race, involving the emerging technologies of the 21st century. We must ensure that America, and Ohio in particular, maintains its leadership in advanced technologies, much like our predecessors did in the 1960’s.”
“As the Chairman has stated, the goal of this report is to provide a baseline of information to prepare the legislature for this emerging industry and to ensure Ohio maintains a competitive edge in its development and deployment,” said Rep. Reineke. “Change is coming and fast, Ohio must begin to prepare for significant policy challenges ahead of us; from infrastructure maintenance and funding, high-skill labor shortages and low-skill labor displacement and retraining, to updating insurance liability regulations. If we are to be an industry leader, these issues must be researched and debated now, not tomorrow.”
Over the course of the summer, members of the committee will continue to research and discuss autonomous and connected vehicles in coordination with experts and industry leaders. They also invite members of the public to provide input on how this industry influences the state of Ohio. This information will help to finalize the committee’s report, which will be released later this year.