Oklahoma law paves way for safety

Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed visionary legislation setting the trajectory for regulation of automated personal vehicles on Oklahoma roads. Although fully self-driving cars may still be a decade away, cars with advanced automation are already prevalent.

Government and safety experts estimate that the majority of wrecks occurring on roads today can be avoided by vehicles connected with sensors to road conditions and other vehicles to override human error. Poor driving practices contribute to 90% of today's crashes, according to AAA research.

In a study, AAA found that technology now standard on most new vehicles could have prevented crashes that took nearly 9,500 lives in 2016. This equates to some 188 of those killed in Oklahoma crashes that year who potentially could be alive had the technology been available and used correctly by drivers.

Authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, Senate Bill 365 creates the Oklahoma Driving Automation System Uniformity Act to harmonize state regulations. Its aim is to minimize confusion among motorists, law enforcement and first responders. Without uniform state regulation, different laws enacted by municipalities could cause confusion for motorists and jeopardize the very safety that these advances offer.

AAA applauds Oklahoma lawmakers for paving the way for the progression of advanced vehicle technology that can help save lives. Leslie Gamble, Oklahoma City Gamble is manager of public and government affairs for AAA Oklahoma.