Congress’ belated best shot to save American lives and prevent injuries

Imagine a law to save more than 30,000 American lives and millions of hospital visits annually, while empowering disabled and older Americans. Congress now has the chance to do what China, Europe, and Japan began years ago: create a national law enabling self-driving cars nationwide.

A bipartisan bill, the SELF DRIVE Act, championed by House Energy and Commerce leaders Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), would finally create a clear national framework so safe autonomous vehicles can operate across state lines instead of facing a confusing state-by-state patchwork. A similar bill passed the House almost unanimously in 2017 but died in the Senate.