NHTSA Deputy to Join Google

Ron Medford, deputy director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has resigned after nine years at the agency to join Google Inc. in in January. He will become safety director for the company's self-driving vehicle operations.

Medford, 64, has served as NHTSA's second-highest administrator since January 2009. He played a key role in setting U.S. fuel economy rules for 2017-2025.

Medford also led the agency's review of how those regulations will affect vehicle crashworthiness and worked on rules to require anti-rollover technology in electronic stability control systems. His career includes more than 40 years in government service.

Google's self-driving cars have logged 300,000 miles on U.S. roads this year. The company predicts the technology could be available to consumers within 10 years.

NHTSA has started its own study of the safety impact of such vehicles.