U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow with 10 Democratic colleagues wrote a letter dated Wednesday to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, requesting information on the actions the department is taking for the advancement of autonomous vehicles.
The senators emphasized the need for the technology to make roadways safer and more accessible, while staying ahead of countries like China in its development. They said self-driving vehicles represent opportunities for different jobs in manufacturing as well as in logistics, transit and passenger transportation.
"Yet, we lag behind in shaping a regulatory framework that will foster this innovation," the Michigan Democrats and their colleagues wrote, "while simultaneously protecting and encouraging all of the important benefits we believe autonomous vehicles are capable of delivering."
