CMU Hosts Bipartisan Event To Unveil New Autonomous Vehicle Legislation

Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian highlighted the collaboration among government, academia and industry that has propelled Pennsylvania's autonomous vehicle (AV) industry forward during an event Wednesday outlining new legislation regulating AVs in the commonwealth. The legislation, unveiled at CMU's Mill 19 facility at Hazelwood Green by state Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee; and Yassmin Gramian, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, would update Pennsylvania's policies around autonomous vehicles to mirror requirements in other states. Jahanian said that the global market for the autonomous vehicle industry will reach about $7 trillion dollars by 2050, with the potential to create countless jobs for workers of all education and skill levels. "While the economic impact of AV promises to be extraordinary, it also holds remarkable potential to enhance quality of life for citizens across the nation and contribute to solving significant societal challenges," Jahanian said, adding that benefits could include improvements to traffic safety and infrastructure maintenance and reductions in carbon emissions. He also noted that the technology's implications could extend to logistics, sustainability, medical care and expanding opportunities for independent living.