Washington D.C. - The Intelligent Transportation Society of America ("ITS America") recognizes the House of Representatives groundbreaking vote on the bipartisan H.R. 3388, Safety Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and research in a Vehicle Evolution Act or the "SELF DRIVE Act"  --the first significant federal legislation on the development, testing and development of highly automated vehicles.  For more than 20 years, ITS America has been at the forefront of this effort, working with states, cities, vehicle manufacturers, technology companies, academic and research institutions, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  “The House vote marks an important first step in creating the framework for the safe introduction of highly autonomous vehicles into our nation’s transportation system. ITS America is confident that highly automated vehicles will help solve many of our nation’s most critical transportation challenges while saving thousands of lives annually, improving mobility, providing greater accessibility, increasing sustainability, and strengthening our economy,” said David St. Amant, ITS America’s Interim President and CEO. As the bill moves to the Senate, ITS America will continue our work for legislation that maintains the existing roles and balance of responsibilities between states, local governments, and the federal government and expands the number and duration of exemptions for highly automated vehicle systems understanding that real-world data can be generated to inform the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles.