The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency whose mission is to determine the probable cause of transportation accidents. For highway accidents, the NTSB works in cooperation with the states to investigate significant crashes including those related to emerging technologies. Since the first fatal crash in the United States in 2016 that involved a vehicle operating in automation mode at the time of the collision, the NTSB has investigated numerous crashes of vehicles equipped with various automation capabilities. Our autonomous vehicle investigations have led us to several key findings and lessons learned, some of which were common across investigations. Through several case examples, this presentation illustrates the safety issues uncovered for different vehicle autonomy levels including some which have implications for driver and dispatcher/operator fitness for duty.

• Describe the different levels of vehicle autonomy.
• Recognize the role of NTSB in investigations involving autonomous vehicles.
• Reflect on issues related to driver safety and medical certification for autonomous vehicles

Kristin M. Poland, PhD

Deputy Director, Office of Highway Safety

National Transportation Safety Board

*Nothing to disclose

Michelle Watters, MD, PhD, MPH

Medical Officer, Office of Research and Engineering

National Transportation Safety Board

*Nothing to disclose