Roadway infrastructure is a critical component to U.S. homeland security. Overland transportation affects the national economy, emergency services, defense, and communication systems. This thesis by Don Simko, Emergency Management Program Specialist at FEMA Headquarters, illustrates the capacity increases to roadways enabled by autonomous vehicle technology. Public policy can enhance the adoption rate of autonomous vehicles to maximize the benefit of this emergent technology on the roadway system. A policy analysis provides a comparison of options, and outlines regulations that will be needed to ensure safe adoption of autonomous vehicle technology nationally.
