In response to the quickly advancing technology in autonomous vehicles, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) released Principles For Autonomous Vehicles On City Streets. According to the NACTO website, this publication is intended to "help all actors - cities, states, federal regulators, and AV [Autonomous Vehicle] companies - successfully integrate Avs into existing, complex city streets and transportation systems."

The 11-page document outlines three main principles to allow the stated actors to proactively incorporate AV in ways that benefit the community:

 
Principle 1: Expect safety excellence from AV operators.
Principle 2: Empower cities and stewards of Avs in urban areas.
Principle 3: Ensure equity, affordability, and accessibility.

These principles cover every aspect of AVs, starting with recommendations for safety-focused, standardized processes for AV development, approval, and regulation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NACTO then moves on to working with local and state systems to develop laws and protocol for interacting with AVs "in the wild." The final principle focuses on commercial AV fleets, ensuring that their development does not encourage single-occupancy travel and is accessible for those who use assistive mobility devices.

The main goal of this document is to proactively address the increased presence of AVs and ensure that pedestrians and vehicular occupants are protected.

To see the full publication, go to: https://nacto.org/2024/11/12/nactos-av-policy-statement-establishes-principles-for-an-autonomous-future-centered-on-people/?mc_cid=70bf5c4b37&mc_eid=defe385839