The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced the Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing (AV TEST) initiative, which creates an online platform for sharing automated driving systems’ testing activities and other safety-related information with the public. 

According to the statement, the initiative “will help increase the public’s awareness of (autonomous) testing, centralize the department’s role in promoting safety and innovation, and build stronger relationships among federal, state, and local governments, and stakeholders.”

The AV TEST initiative will include a series of public events across the country to improve transparency and safety in the development and testing of automated driving systems.

Nine companies and eight states have signed on as the first participants in the initiative.  

The participating companies are Beep, Cruise, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Local Motors, Navya, Nuro, Toyota, Uber, and Waymo. The states are California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah.

Additionally, online mapping tools may show testing locations at the local, state, and national levels, as well as testing activity data, which may include dates, frequency, vehicle counts, and routes.

The AV TEST initiative will be open to all stakeholders involved in the safe development and testing of automated driving system vehicles.

At the state and local level, participants may include departments of motor vehicles, departments of transportation, highway safety offices, and city governments. At the automotive industry level, participants may include developers, manufacturers, suppliers, operators, and testers.