Automotive News reported that Ann Carlson, NHTSA’s acting administrator, told the audience at an industry gathering that the agency expects to publish a notice of proposed rule-making on automated driving systems this fall. This may result in an increase in the number of driverless vehicles allowed to drive on the roads in the U.S.

The new rules would fall under the proposed ADS-Equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency and Evaluation Program, and is known as the AV STEP. The AV STEP would eliminate caps on the maximum allowable number of vehicles using various forms of advanced driving systems up to and including full self-driving where the control of a human being in the driver’s seat is unnecessary.

However, NHTSA wants the companies deploying autonomous vehicles to share data regarding operations to enhance its own expertise in road safety with regard to self-driving vehicles.