To:
Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov]
From: Morning Transportation
Sent: Tue 6/20/2017 2:04:19 PM
Subject: POLITICO'S Morning Transportation, presented by Delta Air Lines: Tesla crash details emerge
-- Clearing the decks for infrastructure? -- Securing Mar-A-Lago
By Lauren Gardner and Tanya Snyder | 06/20/2017 10:00 AM EDT
With help from Brianna Gurciullo and Stephanie Beasley
TESLA CRASH DETAILS: The NTSB published its factual docket Monday on the deadly Tesla crash in Florida last May that ratcheted up fears about the safety of self-driving car systems. At the time of the crash, suspicions of fault were on the driver and what appeared to be over-reliance on the autopilot system - a theory that appears to be reinforced by data released by NTSB Monday. For the vast majority of the trip - more than 37 minutes - the driver assistance system status was " hands required not detected." A visual warning came on seven times, followed by auditory chimes. The driver's hands were only on the wheel for 25 seconds of that time. At the time of the crash - and even immediately afterward - the car was going 74 mph. In January, NHTSA ruled that Tesla wasn't to blame for the crash.
System failure: Still, NTSB's report revives serious questions about the car's key collision avoidance features - forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking - which didn't kick in to keep the Tesla from crashing into a tractor-trailer that was turning into its path. The airbags also failed to deploy when the car crashed into the truck, engaging only later, after it ran into a pole. NTSB's information dump Monday contained no conclusions about the crash's cause. But considering industry officials predict that fully autonomous cars will be on the road within two to three years, reports like these will continue to make the public jittery about self-driving cars, which boosters say will reduce fatalities.
'Well, the car didn't stop': A witness interview included in the docket describes how the Tesla kept going, even after the car emerged from under the truck with the driver "flopped" over. At first, the witness said, he thought the Tesla driver had ducked and escaped the crash unscathed "I just thought he ducked and he was going to stop. Well, the car didn't stop ... I mean, my first thought was it's not stopping." The witness turned around to follow the out-of-control Tesla until it finally drove off the road and into a pole.
IT'S TUESDAY: Thanks for tuning in to POLITICO'S Morning Transportation, your daily tipsheet on all things trains, planes, automobiles and ports. Lauren and Tanya are sharing MT duties, so please send us tips, feedback and lyrics: tsiiyder@politico.com or @TSnyderDC and lgardner@politico.com or @GardnerJLM.
Stickshifts and safetybelts / Bucket seats have all got to go / When we're driving in the car / It makes my baby seem so far /1 need you here with me / Not way over in a bucket seat." h/t Bill Higgins, California Association of Councils of Governments
Want to keep up with MT's song picks? We only need four more followers to hit 100 on our Spotify playlist - get listening!
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CLEARING THE DECKS? Senate Republicans are planning to vote on a bill to repeal Obamacare next week, provided talks this week go well, POLITICO'S Burgess Everett and Jennifer Haberkom report. Should everything go according to plan, that clears the Senate schedule of one of the GOP's priorities that's keeping an infrastructure plan on the back bench. But remember that a tax code overhaul is still on Republicans' minds as next in line. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell "has made clear to associates he prefers not to let the bill linger so the Senate can turn to funding the government, raising the debt ceiling and rewriting the tax code, according to people that speak with him regularly," per Burgess and Jen.
DHS BILL MANIA ON HOUSE FLOOR: The House is expected to vote today on six homeland security-related bills, including a measure (H.R, 2132) sponsored by Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.) that would require TSA to devote more resources to responding to individuals who have frequently been selected for additional airport screening. Language from the bill was also included in a DHS authorization bill approved by the House Homeland Security Committee last week and that Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said might also reach the floor later this month.
Lawmakers take aim at DHS oversight: Also up for a vote is a bill (H.R. 2.131) that would establish a DHS-wide policy for investigating employee misconduct and another (H.R. 2283) that would create a DHS employee engagement steering committee. And H.R. .1282 would establish a board to oversee the department's acquisition review process.
DMV CHUGS ALONG ON WMATA SAFETY: FTA is urging 30 states to get moving to meet an April 15, 2019, deadline to establish state safety oversight agencies that comply with new federal requirements, and the Washington region is actually further along than other areas with large rail transit systems, Lauren reports for Pros. Nine states - including Illinois, New Jersey and New York - still haven't passed legislation to ensure their oversight bodies align with requirements outlined in the 2012 highway and transit law that bestowed upon FTA new regulatory powers on safety matters. Regulators are warning states that it takes time to get through the feds' certification process, and that they legally can't funnel transit funds to transit agencies within their borders if they blow the deadline.
NO WAKE ZONE: The Coast Guard is taking public comment on proposed limits on boat traffic near President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, POLITICO'S Josh Gerstein writes. The service is suggesting security restrictions in three zones, but only when those requiring Secret Service protection - like the president and the first lady - are visiting the "winter White House."
** A message from Delta Air Lines: Delta is committed to raising the standard of air travel. This commitment includes a continued investment in all 80,000 of their employees globally. Learn more at delta.com/dca **
MISSION: CERTIFICATION: The Eno Center for Transportation recommended Monday that the FAA delegate some of its aircraft certification authority to manufacturers. Together with the proposal to spin air traffic control out of the FAA - another Eno priority - this suggestion would
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take some authority away from the FAA and hand it over, at least in part, to industry. This would allow the agency to "focus on its core mission: overseeing the safety of the national airspace," Eno said. Eno acknowledges the FAA's "stellar," "impeccable" safety record but says "the aviation industry is rapidly changing and growing, and the FAA is not equipped to respond to these challenges."
KEEP CLIMBING: A Delta Air Lines executive may be in the mix for a Republican seat on the Federal Trade Commission, Pro Technology's John Hendel and Ashley Gold report. Christine Wilson, a senior vice president at the airline, served as chief of staff to former FTC Chairman Tim Muris.
MT MAILBAG: A bipartisan group of nine senators, led by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), sent a letter Monday to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, asking for her support for the Essential Air Service program, instead of cutting it as the administration proposed in its budget. At a Commerce Committee hearing earlier this month, Chao expressed her disappointment at the way EAS is structured but said she was "working within the administration to see how we can address that" and was "hopeful that I will have a partial solution, very shortly."
- The National Air Transportation Association wrote to House appropriators Monday to reiterate its opposition to splitting up the FAA.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES: Brittany Bramell started this week at TSA as assistant administrator of public affairs after a stint at Uber (h/t POLITICO Playbook). And Mike Joyce recently left the American Trucking Associations.
IT'S NOT GOODBYE: After 14 years as president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Ed Wytkind will step aside on July 18. TTD plans to hold a reception for Wytkind on that day. MT is staying tuned for word on where he is heading.
THE AUTOBAHN:
- "A new type of drone, neither military nor civilian, is emerging." The Economist.
- "Qatar Airways fires back at Arab neighbors with 'no borders' ad." CNN Money.
- "Baggage fee collections exceed $1 billion in first quarter of 2017." AviationPros.
- "Europe plans to have drone rules in place by 2019." Recode.
- "Flight attendants say angry passengers are creating a big safety problem on planes." Time.
- "Cuomo calls for 'summer of hell' transit discount." Crain's New York.
- "For the business traveler worried about security: you're not alone." The New York Times.
- "UPS to add delivery surcharges for Black Friday, Christmas orders." The Wall Street Journal.
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- "Boeing launches new plane as rivalry with Airbus continues." The Wall Street Journal. THE COUNTDOWN: DOT appropriations run out in 103 days. The FAA reauthorization expires in 103 days. Highway and transit policy is up for renewal in 1,199 days. * * A message from Delta Air Lines: Delta believes that doing right by employees is essential to creating an exceptional customer experience. That's why Delta has an industry-leading employee wide profit-sharing program and has increased employee pay by 40% since 2008. Because happier employees lead to happier customers. Learn more at delta.com/dca ** To view online'. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-transportation/2017/06/20/tesla-crash-details-220936 To change your alert settings, please go to https://secure.politico.com/settings/settings
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