One of the stickier problems for autonomous vehicle developers, regulators and the public is determining when self-driving technology is safe enough for the road. So far, that question has largely fallen to industry to answer – companies that are applying their autonomous vehicle technology to self-driving trucks, robotaxis and maybe someday personally owned passenger vehicles.

Today, there is no standardized test for judging how well an automated driving system performs in the real world. We require people to pass a driver’s test before getting a license, but there isn’t an equivalent test or system for autonomous vehicle technology.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s working on an answer. Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) already govern the vehicle automakers sell today. But those FMVSS rules weren’t designed for vehicles like the Tesla Cybercab and Zoox robotaxi, which lack traditional, and federally required, equipment like pedals, steering wheels, and design features like side mirrors and rearview mirrors.

The NHTSA is working on a federal automated vehicle framework that it says will put safety at the foundation without stifling innovation. This week, the agency took a notable step toward that goal by reaching an agreement with SAE to launch ASCEND, a government-industry initiative aimed at speeding up the development of data-driven AV performance standards.

A little bird told me there are other things coming down the pipe, but nothing quite ready to share just yet. In the meantime, the AV industry is already weighing in. A little bird also whispered that deals and other tidbits are afoot, so stay tuned.