Your life versus their jobs: The political economy of transport safety automation

Roslyn Layton

Economic Affairs, 2026, vol. 46, issue 1, 99-114

Abstract: This article examines regulatory misalignment in US transportation policy, highlighting the tolerance of high roadway fatalities (100 + per day) alongside resistance to safety‐enhancing automation in sectors such as aviation and rail. Despite proven risk reduction, modernisation of air traffic control and deployment of autonomous freight trains face institutional constraints from unions and sector‐specific regulators. Meanwhile driverless vehicles navigate complex roads in the United States, autonomous public transport has operated reliably for decades, and automated freight trains routinely traverse China and Australia. Through comparative sectoral analysis, the article argues that fragmented governance and stakeholder pressures impede adoption of automation that could improve safety outcomes.

Date: 2026
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