1. Define the following as used in the article:

• liability
• self-certify
• autonomous
• comply
• vested interest
• contradictory
• prototype
• concise

2. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

3. With what voluntary federal guidelines does Transportation Secretary Anthony Fox expect automakers to comply?

4. For what reason does Secretary Fox say automakers should comply with the recommended guidelines?

5. What would the NHTSA granting itself “pre-market approval” enable the agency to do? Why might this require action from Congress?

6. Why have some consumer advocates objected to the administration’s decision to pursue voluntary guidelines instead of drafting safety rules and standards that are legally enforceable? (see para. 12)

7. For what reason did automakers ask the NHTSA for the guidelines?

8. Do you think it is necessary for the federal government to be in charge of regulating self-driving vehicles in every state, or are state governments capable of creating their own rules for them? Explain your answer.

CHALLENGE QUESTION:
a) Re-read paragraphs 13-14. List the different ways Michigan, New York, Chicago and Boston are approaching the issue of self-driving cars.
b) Write out the text of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.
c) Read a list of the enumerated powers, which are a list of items found in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution that set forth the authority of Congress.
Do you think that although not specifically listed as one of the enumerated powers, the NHTSA should be authorized to regulate self-driving cars, or should this be left to the states as stipulated by the Tenth Amendment? Explain your answer.