A former NHTSA administrator and head of a self-driving coalition is optimistic about the next four years David L. Strickland understands the government regulation of vehicles more than anyone. As the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the Obama years, he oversaw major changes to the way the government pushed for more nimble technological solutions to make cars safer, cleaner, and more connected. He thinks autonomous vehicles (AVs) are about to usher in a major breakthrough for our society?no matter who?s in the White House.
As the counsel and spokesperson of the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets?a group that includes five of the autonomous world?s most influential players: Google, Uber, Lyft, Volvo, and Ford?Strickland is now the most important lobbyist for an industry that was a few policy recommendations away from radically changing the way we live. Until, that is, the 2016 presidential election, which ushered in an age of uncertainty around the country?s transportation policies. I met Strickland at Los Angeles? auto show?a celebration of car culture in the birthplace of car culture?which has ended up becoming the most forward-thinking auto show in the U.S. Over the last few years, the show has added special emphasis on low-emission and shared vehicles, recently rebranding the entire show as AutoMobility LA to acknowledge its increasingly nontraditional mobility solutions.
It was worrying to many in attendance that aft...