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TRAA Submits Comment to Federal Register on Exemption Application by Waymo, LLC and Aurora Operations, Inc.
- By: TRAA Office
- On: 04/11/2023 10:51:05
- In: Legislation
In March, Waymo LLC (Waymo) and Aurora Operations, Inc. (Aurora) applied on behalf of a class of motor carriers operating autonomous driving systems (ADS) equipped CMVs for a 5-year exemption from the "required placement of warning devices around stopped commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), the requirement that lamps for warning devices be steady-burning, and to allow use of a warning device for stopped vehicles not currently allowed by Agency rules."
TRAA has submitted a comment in opposition to Docket No. FMCSA-2023-0071 based on our belief that allowing the use of amber, or other color, warning beacons in place of the traditional warning devices such as flares, fusses or reflective triangles will increase the motoring public's disregard and desensitization to warning beacons when displayed for true emergencies. Further, as submitted, the exemption request may be in direct conflict with current emergency lighting use regulations in several states and most definitely conflicts with the intended use of amber warning beacons. Most states do not allow use of amber warning beacons unless a vehicle is presenting a direct hazard to traffic such as being slow moving, stopped in an active lane of travel, or otherwise specifically required by law. By adding yet another group of vehicles displaying amber beacons the motoring public will be further confused as to the intended meaning of the caution light and/or their responsibility when approaching a vehicle displaying such lights.