Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) was the keynote speaker at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce's Future Forum at the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty, Ohio where he spoke on the importance of autonomous vehicles, the need for federal standards on AVs, and Ohio's leadership in the future of transportation. Congressman Latta released the following statement after the event:
"I was honored to deliver the keynote address in East Liberty at the Ohio Chamber’s Future Forum event focused on autonomous vehicles. From the traffic light to the self starter, Ohio has led the world in transportation and historically has played a major role in the evolution of this industry. This work is being done right here at the Transportation Research Center, the largest multi-user automotive testing facility in North America. Autonomous vehicles are the next chapter of this transformation, and it must be written here in Ohio.
"With autonomous vehicles becoming increasingly prevalent on streets across America, it's paramount that Congress acts to ensure the safety of these vehicles and all who encounter them. As co-chair of the Autonomous Vehicle Caucus in the House of Representatives and as a legislator who has been working on this issue for nearly a decade, safety is at the heart of all I do.
"Thousands of Americans die each year in traffic crashes. We lose family members, friends, and loved ones every day to these horrible incidents, but tragedies like these are not inevitable, and autonomous vehicles can help. It's critical that we write the law correctly to ensure safe and positive deployments for the ushering in of this new technology that will help us lower crash fatalities.
"That's why, since 2017, I have worked tirelessly on the SELF DRIVE Act, holding hundreds of meetings with stakeholder groups, co-founding the AV caucus alongside my friend, Representative Debbie Dingell of Michigan, and working on numerous discussion drafts. While the legislation has evolved, my priorities have not. Safety first, a single federal framework, and American leadership are at the forefront of this work.
"This legislation would require companies to prove that their self-driving vehicles are safe before they deploy onto our roads. The bill would also establish a national crash reporting repository so the public knows how these vehicles perform. While setting a federal standard, the bill would also preserve the role of the states, allowing their longstanding authorities on traffic laws, vehicle registration, and insurance to continue.
"In addition to saving lives by lowering crashes, this new technology can enable mobility for millions of Americans including seniors and those with disabilities. This industry will offer many new jobs, especially in manufacturing, which flourishes in Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. Additionally, we cannot cede the future of auto manufacturing to Communist China who is working to out-compete us in AV production.
"Until a federal AV framework becomes law, I will not stop working on this issue, and I am confident that we will eventually be able to find a bipartisan path forward."
