Autonomous vehicles (AVs), in development for years, have only recently become safe enough for mass adoption. Now, events like Uber’s new partnerships with AV companies Zoox and Rivian signal that it’s time for widespread use. But the inaugural fleets can’t deploy without political will.
The nascent industry’s struggles with the Washington, D.C. City Council, which is barring AV entry in the nation’s capital, suggests a bumpy road ahead. Misguided concerns, special-interest pressures, and bureaucratic proceduralism threaten to undermine the successful deployment of AVs.
