Professional Engineers & Autonomous Vehicles

An autonomous vehicle is a mode of transportation that can detect the environment around it and make decisions without any human interaction. Essentially, a computer is driving around the passengers. While this new technology makes some people excited, it makes others feel uneasy. The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) is working hard to reverse that feeling.

Whether you are for or against the implementation of driverless cars, they are closer to occupying our roads than they’ve ever been. These vehicles decrease the probability of human error on the road but pose safety concerns. Potential hacker threats, undetected bicyclists or animals, and system glitches have caused the public to feel unsure about the future of the road.

The NSPE is influencing regulations at both the state and federal levels. They are looking to make a difference with requirements for approved vehicles to get out on the road. The goal is to convince federal and state policymakers that a licensed professional engineer is necessary, even critical, to the regulating process. If the NSPE can convince these government bodies to make an engineer inspection a lawful requirement, the process will become drastically more comprehensive and complete. The autonomous vehicles that are eventually sold to the public will pose significantly lower risks. Both the NSPE and New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers refuse to play around with safety and public health.

Think about this: would you feel safer in your new, driverless car if it had the stamp of approval from a licensed professional engineer with decades of experience? This seems like a no-brainer, which is why we continue to oppose manufacturers self-approving their vehicles.

We will state our case to policymakers until a licensed engineer is an unmistakable part of the approval process for autonomous vehicles. Safety is too important to have it any other way. Learn more about the work of professional engineers on njspe.org.

How NJSPE Helps New Jersey Engineers

One of the best ways to network with people in your industry and stay up-to-date on engineering news and events is by becoming a member of a professional association. New Jersey engineers are very lucky because there are so many great associations specifically created for engineers in our state. So why should you join the New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers? Here are five of our favorite reasons:

Only PE organization – NJSPE is the only organization in New Jersey dedicated to professional engineers. That means we focus on helping you stay informed about how to maintain and utilize your license. Our goal is to promote, serve, and and represent New Jersey’s engineering professionals for the public’s benefit.
Continuing education opportunities – to keep your PE license, you must complete 24 professional development hours with two of them in ethics within each renewal period. We keep you informed about upcoming opportunities for continuing education and make sure you know when your professional development hours must be completed by.
Free webinars – speaking of professional development hours, being a member of NJSPE gives you access to 15 free webinars! These webinars will help you put a dent in the number of courses you need to maintain licensure, all without leaving your house. They change annually, so you’re always getting the most up-to-date information on the most popular topics.
Job opportunities – instead of jumping from website to website trying to find engineering jobs, you’ll have access to our engineering only careers page. You’ll also get access to NSPE’s national job board, unlocking countless career opportunities. Dozens of New Jersey engineers find jobs on our job board everyday.
Advocacy and news – stay in-the-know about the engineering professional and state of engineering in New Jersey with our monthly newsletter. We feature important national news, local news, upcoming events, jobs, and much more to give you a leg up in the industry.

If you’re trying to decide whether joining NJSPE is the best option for you, let us put you in touch with New Jersey engineers who have benefited from our organization. Just email info@njspe.org and we’d be happy to connect you to one of our members or answer any questions you may have. If you’re interested in becoming a member, visit our membership page and join today!