ANCOR Sends Letter to Senate on Self-Driving Car Legislation

As part of its work with the Coalition for Future Mobility, ANCOR sent a letter of support to the Senate authors of the AV START Act (S. 1885), which seeks to advance the development of automated (self-driving) vehicles. While ANCOR has signed on to group letters through the Coalition in the past, this is the first time we have sent a stand-alone letter on this issue. As stated in the letter:

“Due to the limitations of our current transportation systems, ANCOR believes it is important for Congress to empower technological innovation in this field. Access to reliable, safe and customizable transportation, such as that offered by automated vehicles, could profoundly improve outcomes for individuals with I/DD by helping them live more independently. For example, increased mobility would mean greater access to work – a key issue for people with I/DD, as they are more likely to live in poverty than their peers without disabilities. Beyond encouraging innovation, the AV START Act has specific provisions addressing the needs of people with disabilities. Specifically, the AV START Act prevents licensing practices that would exclude persons with disabilities from being able to use an AV. The bill also creates a working group dedicated to accessibility for individuals with disabilities.”

For more information on our work on this issue, please contact Sarah Meek, Director of Legislative Affairs, at [email protected].