Child Passenger Safety in Autonomous Vehicles
Self-Driving Vehicles, also known as Autonomous Vehicles, are already being tested on the road in communities throughout the United States. Given that, consumer advocates are urging regulators and manufacturers to take immediate action to promote child passenger safety.
In a recent report, a panel comprised of 17 top-level transportation and safety experts recommended that in addition to adult passenger safety issues, child passenger safety must be addressed during the development and testing phases of autonomous vehicles.
Child Passenger Safety Expert Recommendations
The benefit of having child safety experts involved in the process during the innovation and development phases as opposed to after the vehicles and their features are already in production is expected to decrease risks and increase child safety. The input is designed to make sure testing meets the unique needs of small children. The goals are to have children properly restrained, have the greatest level of protection from vehicle features during a crash, and also ensure that the child will be appropriately supervised during travel.
The panel also identified the need to adopt best practices with regard to the appropriate age at which a child can ride with a lack of supervision, or alone in the autonomous vehicle. Below are a few of the potential issues identified by the safety panel:
- If the supervising adult within the autonomous vehicle is impaired or asleep, how will the child be kept safe?
- What if the autonomous vehicle suffers a mechanical breakdown or is re-routed to an unfamiliar location?
- What if the child is unable to communicate regarding a problem with the vehicle?
Acting Now Will Reduce Risks for Years
Self-driving vehicles have the potential to enhance mobility and increase road safety, but steps need to be taken now as automobile and related equipment manufacturers test and develop autonomous vehicles and their features. All steps should be taken to protect child passengers within those vehicles. Doing so will eliminate or mitigate future risks. Not doing so will result in risk implications for child passengers for years to come.
The panel’s report calls on developers of self-driving vehicle technology to:
- Reach out to child safety experts for input during all stages of autonomous vehicle design and development phases in order to ensure that the safety requirements for children at all ages and development are met.
- Conduct research to determine appropriate levels of child supervision necessary in autonomous vehicles.
- Make recommendations for advertising and marketing campaigns that depict families with children acting in accordance with the identified best practices.
- Gear testing toward the needs of children and promote transparency about that testing in order to facilitate confidence that child safety is a priority.
Other recommendations for the traffic safety community that were addressed in the report include:
- Define “driver” or “guardian” for self-driving vehicles during the transportation of children up to age 13.
- Educate law enforcement and first responders on self-driving vehicles, especially in the regions of the country where the vehicles are being tested.
- Develop, promote, and use consistent messaging and language with the public.
Watch the YouTube video from CNET on the safety of self-driving vehicles.
Roseville Personal Injury Lawyer
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