TechCrunch Mobility reports that determining when autonomous vehicle technology is safe enough for the road remains a difficult problem for AV developers, regulators, and the public, with no standardized test for judging how well an automated driving system performs in the real world. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it is working on an answer, noting that federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) already govern vehicles automakers sell today but were not designed for vehicles like the Tesla Cybercab and Zoox robotaxi, which lack traditional, federally required equipment such as pedals, steering wheels, side mirrors, and rearview mirrors. NHTSA is working on a federal automated vehicle framework that Administrator Jonathan Morrison said will put safety at the foundation without stifling innovation. The agency reached an agreement with SAE to launch ASCEND, a government-industry initiative aimed at speeding up development of data-driven AV performance standards. Morrison said the consortium’s top priority is ADS competency, which will inform and accelerate a corresponding federal motor vehicle safety standard, and that ADS performance rulemaking will provide federal leadership and address inconsistent state and local requirements. There is no timeline yet for when the consortium will produce ADS standards.