# How do we know when an AV is safe enough?

> The U.S. is building its first standardized safety framework for autonomous vehicles, but the timeline remains unclear.
- Title: How do we know when an AV is safe enough? · TechCrunch
- Summary: The U.S. is building its first standardized safety framework for autonomous vehicles, but the timeline remains unclear. There's no standardized test for…
- Keywords: autonomous vehicles, nhtsa, safety standards, ascend, robotaxi, federal regulation, av testing, self-driving trucks, jonathan morrison, sae, technology, startups
- Source: TechCrunch — https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/20/techcrunch-mobility-how-do-we-know-when-an-av-is-safe-enough
- Author: Kirsten Korosec
- Published: 2026-09-20T16:02:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: autonomous vehicles, nhtsa, safety standards, ascend, robotaxi, federal regulation, av testing, self-driving trucks, jonathan morrison, sae, technology, startups
## The AV safety question nobody can answer
Autonomous vehicle developers, regulators, and the public can't agree on when self-driving technology is safe enough for the road. So far, the industry has largely decided for itself.
## No test exists for self-driving cars
People must pass a driver's test to get a license, but there's no equivalent test or system for autonomous vehicle technology. The industry currently sets its own safety benchmarks.
## Old safety rules don't fit new vehicles
Federal motor vehicle safety standards govern today's cars, but they weren't designed for robotaxis like Tesla's Cybercab or Zoox's vehicle, which lack steering wheels, pedals, and mirrors.
## NHTSA seeks a careful balance
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is developing a federal autonomous vehicle framework that prioritizes safety without stifling innovation or forcing reactive policy decisions.
## ASCEND launches this week
The NHTSA reached an agreement with SAE to launch ASCEND, a government-industry initiative aimed at developing data-driven autonomous driving system performance standards.
## ADS competency is the priority
ASCEND's top goal is establishing autonomous driving system competency standards that will inform federal motor vehicle safety rules and replace inconsistent state and local requirements.

> Our top priority for this consortium is ADS competency, which will inform and accelerate a corresponding federal motor vehicle safety standard.
## Timeline still unknown
There's no announced timeline for when ASCEND will produce autonomous driving system standards, though the AV industry is already weighing in on the process.
## May Mobility goes public
Autonomous vehicle company May Mobility plans to merge with special purpose acquisition company ACP Holdings in a deal that could raise over 300 million dollars at a 1.4 billion dollar valuation.
## First pure-play robotaxi IPO
May Mobility will be the first publicly traded U.S. company focused entirely on autonomous ride-hailing vehicles, operating Toyota Siennas in three locations with an asset-light partnership approach.
## Beep and Freebee merge
Autonomous vehicle company Beep merged with Miami-based on-demand public transportation firm Freebee. The combined company will be called Beep, led by Beep co-founder Kevin Reid as chair and CEO.
## Lucid and Bolt partner on robotaxis
Lucid Motors partnered with European mobility platform Bolt to deploy at least 25,000 fully autonomous vehicles built on Lucid's upcoming midsize EV architecture, which will be smaller and cheaper than current offerings.
## Zoox cap expires September 25
Zoox is currently limited to 100 vehicles in Las Vegas, the only market where it operates commercial robotaxi service. The cap expires September 25, clearing the way for Amazon-owned Zoox to expand its fleet.
## Waymo expands to Singapore
Waymo restarted its San Antonio robotaxi service after a flash flood, launched in Las Vegas, and announced it's heading to Singapore to map and test its autonomous vehicle technology.
## Key takeaway

There's no standardized test for autonomous vehicle safety yet, but the NHTSA and industry are working together through a new initiative called ASCEND to develop data-driven performance standards.