As autonomous vehicle technology matures and its market adoption matures, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a new proposed rule (NPRM) for the Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation Program for Vehicles Equipped with Automated Driving Systems (AV STEP) in 2025. This program aims to establish a voluntary and systematic framework for reviewing and regulating vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS) and promote the safe and orderly commercialization of autonomous driving technology.
Background and Objectives of the AV STEP Program
Regulating vehicles equipped with automated driving systems has always been a major challenge in traffic safety. Traditional Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are largely based on the assumption of human drivers, including traditional control devices such as steering wheels and pedals. However, when autonomous vehicles replace human drivers and adopt fully autonomous driving technology, their design and operation methods undergo fundamental changes, making traditional standards difficult to fully adapt.
To this end, NHTSA has proposed the AV STEP program. This voluntary program invites automakers, autonomous driving system developers, fleet operators, and other parties to submit detailed operational information and safety demonstrations. This program will establish a mechanism for reviewing the safety management systems of participating entities, providing a basis for developing targeted regulations and performance standards for future autonomous vehicles.
Core Content and Implementation Framework of the Program
- Two-Stage Participation Mechanism
AV STEP has two participation steps, depending on whether the vehicle relies on fallback personnel for oversight:
- Step 1: Applies to all vehicles requiring continuous fallback personnel supervision during operation.
- Step 2: Applies to fully autonomous vehicles without fallback personnel, requiring higher system maturity and safety requirements. Participants can apply to transition from Step 1 to Step 2 gradually based on technological development.
- Safety Case Submission and Independent Assessment
Participants must submit a “safety case” demonstrating the safety of autonomous driving technology under the intended operating conditions and cooperate with an independent third-party organization to conduct an assessment of the technology and safety management system to ensure objective and effective safety. - Streamlining the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Exemption Process
Qualified participants can apply for exemptions from federal standards specifically designed for automated driving systems through AV STEP, reducing regulatory barriers to technological development and promoting innovation. - Information Disclosure, Transparency, and Regulatory Support
The plan requires participants to regularly report operational data, strengthening regulatory oversight of automated vehicles while also providing transparency to the public to enhance trust.
Integration with Existing Systems
While AV STEP provides a new regulatory framework, participants must still comply with existing federal motor vehicle safety standards and safety responsibilities, including those related to defect recalls. NHTSA, under the principle of protecting public safety, emphasizes that technological innovation must not come at the expense of safety. In the future, as data accumulates and technology advances, NHTSA will develop more binding automated driving performance standards and related regulations, gradually improving the regulatory framework.
Public Participation and Future Outlook
The proposed rule was open for public comment in early 2025. NHTSA encourages industry and the public to actively participate in feedback and jointly promote the standardized development of automated driving technology. The AV STEP program is widely viewed within the industry as establishing a flexible and efficient new model for the safety regulation of autonomous vehicles. It will help unify federal regulatory standards, reduce the complexity associated with fragmented state-level regulation, and promote the healthy development of the U.S. autonomous driving industry.
As the application of autonomous driving systems continues to expand, AV STEP will provide the industry with continuous data support and safety assessment guidance, accelerating the widespread commercialization and adoption of this technology.