Suggested Citation:
D'Agostino, Mollie (2026)

Brief: Vehicle Automation May Require New Safety Policies

. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Brief UCD-ITS-RR-26-06

Abstract:

Automation is ushering in a new era for motor vehicle safety. Vehicles equipped with Automated Driving Systems (ADS) are increasingly on our roadways. ADS systems typically include cameras, radar, LiDAR, artificial intelligence (AI) perception systems, data fusion, and neural network architectures. Research from UC Davis evaluated ADS-related safety policy, data collection, and human-machine interactions. The findings suggest that integrating ADS vehicles with existing infrastructure and operations will require updates to safety definitions, more robust oversight, and clearer regulatory andlegal frameworks.