PCI Issues Statement on AV START Act

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America issued the following statement by Nat Wienecke, senior vice president, federal government relations, encouraging critical improvements to the "American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies (AV START) Act":

"The development of self-driving vehicles and assisted driving technology has the potential to make a quantum leap in road safety and access to transportation, but there are significant challenges ahead and important decisions to be made regarding the appropriate regulatory framework for the testing and deployment of such vehicles.

"However, the AV START Act has a major shortcoming in that it fails to address the critical issue of allowing insurers to have access to data from automated vehicles. Blocking insurer access to critical data harms consumers by crippling their ability to promptly handle claims and compensate accident victims. Access to data is also necessary for insurers to support the rapidly emerging technology with new insurance products. Recognizing the complexity of the issue, PCI supports including a provision that allows experts time to review the types of data these vehicles will produce, ensuring consumers choice for third parties to access their data, and protects a vibrant competitive insurance marketplace.

"PCI urges the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to ensure that insurer access to this critical data is preserved during next week's mark up."

PCI promotes and protects the viability of a competitive private insurance market for the benefit of consumers and insurers. PCI is composed of nearly 1,000 member companies, representing the broadest cross section of insurers of any national trade association. PCI members write $216 billion in annual premium, 36 percent of the nation's property casualty insurance. Member companies write 43 percent of the U.S. automobile insurance market, 29 percent of the homeowners market, 34 percent of the commercial property and liability market and 36 percent of the private workers compensation market.