Driving as a Societal Right
As autonomous vehicles (AVs) race toward ubiquity, the Human Drivers Advocacy Network (HDAN) poses a bold question: Is driving a personal car a societal right? In an era of transformative technology, HDAN is protecting mobility, advocating for policies that ensure affordable and equitable access to driving—a vital thread in the fabric of modern life. This is a movement set to steer the future of transportation.
The Heart of Mobility
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The automobile reshaped the 20th century, opening doors to jobs, education, and community. Today, 83% of U.S. adults rely on personal vehicles for daily needs (Pew Research, 2023), highlighting driving’s role in fostering independence. AVs promise efficiency but risk marginalizing human drivers with soaring insurance costs and automation-first policies. HDAN contends that driving is a right, akin to freedom of movement, enabling self-determination and inclusion, particularly in underserved rural and low-income areas.
A Visionary Approach
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HDAN’s mission rests on three powerful pillars:
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Mobility as Dignity: Echoing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, mobility drives access to work, healthcare, and social ties.
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Driving as Autonomy: Personal vehicles empower individual agency, a freedom an AV-only world could erode.
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Access as Equity: Affordable driving prevents exclusion, ensuring economic barriers don’t disproportionately harm vulnerable communities.
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Shaping the Future
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HDAN is engaging communities to capture drivers’ stories, documenting mobility’s role in daily life. We analyze AV policies’ impact on costs and access, drawing on data from the U.S. Department of Transportation and economic studies. Our work informs regulators and insurers, urging for frameworks that integrate AVs while preserving driving options. With plans for a landmark policy paper, HDAN is positioned to lead, amplifying drivers’ voices to secure their mobility in a rapidly evolving landscape.
