Together for Safer Roads (TSR), a global non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing road safety through cross-sector collaboration, today announced Waymo as its newest member. As a leader in autonomous driving technology, Waymo brings deep technical expertise and a commitment to data-driven learning and safe fleet operations to TSR’s expansive network of fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, city partners, and technology companies.

As part of its membership, Waymo and TSR will launch a joint Conversation Series in 2026 focused on the intersection of autonomy, fleet operations, safety, and the future economy. The series will convene leaders from a cross-sector of key actors, including fleets, cities, technologists and drivers for a set of structured discussions designed to elevate informed, practical dialogue around issues shaping fleet safety, technology, and operations. 

“As an organization that sits at the intersection of many of the most pressing fleet safety issues today, it is essential that Together for Safer Roads helps facilitate informed conversations about autonomy and its implications across the commercial sector,” said Peter Goldwasser, Executive Director of Together for Safer Roads. “With Waymo as its newest member and partner, TSR has the opportunity to do exactly that, drawing on their extensive expertise, experience, and learnings to bring fleets, cities, and technology leaders together around practical, real-world questions and potential solutions to critical questions. We are thrilled to have Waymo join.”

“Together for Safer Roads brings a valuable, cross-sector perspective to complex safety challenges,” said Matthew Walsh, Regional Head of State & Local Public Policy – East at Waymo. “We look forward to collaborating with TSR and its members to explore questions around fleet safety, operations, and how emerging technologies are shaping the now and future of fleets.”

Through its membership and the Conversation Series, Waymo joins TSR’s broader efforts to support safer fleets, stronger partnerships between public and private stakeholders, and data-driven approaches to reducing crashes and fatalities. In particular, Waymo will help inform key discussions amongst a broad cross-section of constituencies concerning the how, when and degree by which autonomy will affect the future of fleets across a variety of industries. 

The IATR is proud to have Peter Goldwasser serving on its Advisory Board, bringing decades of experience in road safety, government operations, and building effective public–private partnerships. TSR has been a longtime partner of IATR, collaborating on New York City Vision Zero road safety events and contributing to IATR Health and Safety Committee meetings. Waymo has also been a longtime sponsor of the IATR Annual Conference and was a sponsor of Together for Safer Roads’ annual reception last year, underscoring its sustained commitment to cross-sector collaboration on road safety and mobility innovation.

The IATR, TSR, and Waymo participated in a joint safety roundtable in London in April 2025, organized by TSR and Fleet Vision International, bringing together government and private fleets, technology companies, and transportation experts to discuss autonomy, fleet safety, and emerging risk considerations. IATR looks forward to continuing its work with TSR as part of its 2026 London tour, including the IATR Regulators Meeting on Friday, April 24, where TSR will participate in a program focused on road safety and its impacts on insurance costs. More details will be posted on our website shortly.

Source: Together for Safer Roads

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From Left: Kim Ramkishun, Executive Director of the IATR; Keith Kerman, Deputy Commissioner for Fleet Management and Chief Fleet Officer at the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS); Matt Daus, President of the IATR; Matthew Walsh, Regional Head of State & Local Public Policy – East at Waymo; and Pat Russo, Treasurer of the IATR

Rep. Bob Latta

The discussion draft of the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 has now been formally introduced in the House of Representatives as H.R. 7390, the Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution Act of 2026. The bill was introduced on February 5, by Rep. Robert E. Latta and has been referred to both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee for review.

The bill would amend Title 49 of the U.S. Code to strengthen the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) authority over vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS) and to ensure safety measures while supporting U.S. leadership in autonomous vehicle technology.

According to the text, the legislation is designed to:

• Improve road safety, accessibility, and mobility;
• Encourage testing and deployment of automated driving technologies;
• Create jobs in the automotive and autonomy sectors; and
• Provide clear federal rules relevant to ADS-equipped and ADS-dedicated vehicles.

H.R. 7390 builds on concepts from the earlier discussion draft by formally adding new regulatory requirements into federal statute, including:

• a new section to federal motor vehicle safety law specifically for ADS-equipped and ADS-dedicated vehicles, and definitions for terms such as “automated driving system,” “ADS-equipped vehicle,” and “ADS-dedicated vehicle;”
• directing NHTSA to establish updated or new motor vehicle safety requirements that apply to vehicles with automated driving systems, standards that are intended to govern design, construction, and performance for ADS technologies; and
• provisions on motor vehicle testing or evaluation, rules for making systems inoperative, and measures for protecting the security of connected vehicles, signaling a broader framework for regulated ADS deployment.

The introduced bill text similarly codifies safety standards and definitions relevant to ADS technologies, though the full detailed provisions (e.g., regulatory timelines, specific safety case content requirements, and enforcement mechanisms) remain under committee consideration as of the bill’s referral.

Source: ACT-News

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Trump Wants 100% American-Made EV Chargers. Some See Sabotage

The Trump administration is proposing to require that federally funded electric vehicle chargers be fully U.S. made — an all-but-impossible target that could kill a multibillion-dollar effort to build a nationwide charging network. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday that raising the threshold to 100 percent domestic manufacturing — up from 55 percent — would advance U.S. manufacturing and improve national security.

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NH House Transportation Committee Opts Not to Move Forward with Auto Inspections Amendment

Members of the House Transportation Committee met Tuesday to discuss an auto inspections amendment that majority Republicans ultimately decided not to bring forward.

"There's no need for us to do anything at this very moment. We still have time. The attorney general, I think, has the situation well in hand, and I trust that he'll be able to bring this situation to acceptable resolution," said Rep. Jason Osborne.

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Speed-Limiting Devices Could Be Coming for Hawaii Repeat Offenders

Hawaii lawmakers are taking a tough new step to slow down the state’s most dangerous speeders. A bill moving through the Legislature would let judges order speed-limiting devices in the cars of habitual offenders, similar to ignition interlocks for drunk drivers.

Speeding remains one of the leading causes of serious crashes in Hawaii and officials are pushing a bold new solution to allow courts to force repeat speeders to install active speed-limiting systems in their vehicles.

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Canada Commits $97 Million to 155 Clean Transport Projects

The Government of Canada has announced more than $97 million in funding for 155 clean transportation projects across the country, with the bulk directed towards expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The investment forms part of the newly launched Automotive Strategy and is intended to accelerate EV uptake while strengthening domestic industrial capacity.

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Canada Is Funding the Cost to Build the Gordie Howe International Bridge; Here's How

On Monday night, President Donald Trump threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is being fully paid for by the Canadian government. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said in part that he would "not allow" the bridge to open "until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve."

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New Halifax Transit Plan Includes 24/7 Airport Bus

A new Halifax transit plan aims to introduce more bus service on evenings and weekends and more buses across the city in response to population growth. On Monday, Halifax Transit staff brought the “Strategic Roadmap” to the transportation committee.  The plan outlines multiple projects over the next three years to improve the municipality’s transit service following months of online and in-person community engagement.

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New High Speed Rail Loop Would Link 9 Cities in UK, Ireland

The head of the U.K.’s leading architecture body has unveiled a radical vision for a vast circular city linking Britain and Ireland through a single high‑speed rail network. The proposal reimagines how major cities across the British Isles could be connected, challenging decades of fragmented transport planning.  It also lands as the British government renews its commitment to large‑scale rail investment in the north of England.

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Madrid to Launch Driverless Taxis in 2026

Madrid could join other European capitals in launching driverless taxis on the road this year.

Uber announced on Wednesday that it will deploy autonomous vehicles Spanish capital before the end of 2026, in a step that marks a turning point in urban mobility.

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Octopus Energy Handing £1,100 Back to Customers for Their Pockets

Octopus Energy has announced it will be giving "roughly" £1,100 back into customers' pockets. Octopus' Electroverse, Europe’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network, is teaming up with popular European taxi app Freenow by Lyft.

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Dubai’s Flying Taxis Will Start with Airports, Resorts, and Business Districts

Dubai’s flying taxis will initially serve airport transfers, resorts, and business districts before expanding to broader city routes, according to Joby Aviation UAE general manager Anthony Khoury. Early demand for flying taxis is expected to come primarily from tourists and business travelers, driven by takeoff-and-landing hubs — known as “vertiports” — located at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Dubai Mall, Atlantis The Royal hotel in Palm Jumeirah, and the American University of Dubai.

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Thailand’s Taxi QR Codes Go Live: Track Trips, Report Issues, Estimate Fares

Passengers can now scan QR codes to verify driver details, track a journey in real time and share trip information with others. A fare estimate can also be checked before travelling, and passengers can rate their experience after the trip via the blue QR code.

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Twelve Massive Transport Changes Coming to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is accelerating into the future with a wave of transport innovations designed to make daily travel faster, safer, and more sustainable. From expanded driverless taxis and electric seagliders to AI-powered traffic drones and autonomous logistics, the capital is laying the foundations for a fully integrated smart mobility ecosystem.

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Image: cdn.da.org.za

South African Transport Minister Barbara Creecy is advocating for stricter regulations for scholar transport, including advanced driving certification, vehicle marking, and tracking devices. While safety is the priority, some transport operators express concerns about the financial implications of these proposed measures.

During a recent scholar transport operation in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, Creecy advocated for strengthening legislation to guarantee that scholar transport drivers were certified in advanced and defensive driving.

She said that the departments of education and transport should keep a separate database of scholar transport vehicles.

“Driver behaviour plays a significant role in road crashes. In terms of the National Land Transport Regulations, every private vehicle must have a contract between the operator and the school. They must carry a certified copy of the contract, which recognises that the transporter is transporting pupils to a particular school.

“That contract must be kept in the vehicle. The second requirement of the existing law is that the driver must have a special identity document that identifies him or her as a scholar transport service provider and that document must have the name of the driver, the identity number of the driver, the name of the operator and a code indicating the type of vehicle that is being used,” she said.

Creecy added that the Department of Transport was in discussions with the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) regarding the introduction of tracking devices in vehicles and in due course, the introduction of dashcams.

Source: The Post

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