Agency uses authority to gather additional information necessary to increase transparency and improve safety of new and emerging in-vehicle technologies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it exercised its authority by issuing a Standing General Order requiring manufacturers and operators of vehicles equipped with SAE Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) or […]
Auto Manufacturers Association Recommends NHTSA Include Crash Avoidance in Safety Ratings
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation announced recommendations to modernize the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the program that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) uses to convey safety information to consumers. According to the association, NCAP currently rates the crashworthiness of cars, but does not rate advanced crash avoidance technologies like automatic emergency braking […]
NHTSA Proposes to Restore Ability for States to Set Own Greenhouse Gas Standards for Autos
The U.S. Department of Transportation yesterday proposed to withdraw its portions of the so-called SAFE I Rule, which sought to preempt States, including California, from issuing their own greenhouse gas emissions standards and zero-emissions vehicle mandates. The proposed action would establish a clean slate, enabling the Department to further the Biden Administration’s fuel economy, equity, […]
NHTSA Exempts Autonomous Vehicles That Do Not Carry Passengers from Crashworthiness Standards
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on January 14 issued a final rule to modernize numerous Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and clarify ambiguities in current occupant protection standards for vehicles equipped with automated driving systems that are designed without traditional manual driver controls. The rule amends several crashworthiness regulations to […]
10 Vehicle Manufacturers Reach Automatic Emergency Braking Commitment Ahead of Schedule
Ten automakers have fulfilled a voluntary commitment to equip nearly all the new light vehicles they produce for the U.S. market with automatic emergency braking (AEB) — well ahead of the 2022-23 target. The 10 manufacturers put the technology on more than 95 percent of the vehicles they produced between Sept. 1, 2019, and Aug. […]
NTSB Says Tesla Crash Investigation Demonstrates Limitations of Today’s ADAS Systems
Board warns of insufficient federal oversight of partial driving automation systems. Issues nine safety recommendations for regulators, technology companies and auto industry. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a public board meeting Tuesday during which it determined the probable cause for the fatal March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla Model X in Mountain […]
NHTSA Grants Low-Speed Driverless Delivery Vehicle Safety Exemption to Test Up to 5000 Vehicles on Public Roads
Nuro plans to begin public testing in Houston, Texas within weeks. NHTSA announced February 6 that it granted Nuro’s request for a temporary exemption from some low-speed vehicle standard requirements. The exemption will allow the company to deploy up to 5,000 of its 2nd generation low-speed, occupantless electric delivery vehicle, the “R2.” Unlike a conventional […]
NTSB Says ‘Inadequate Safety Culture’ Contributed to Uber Automated Test Vehicle Crash
Safety Board calls for Federal review process for automated vehicle testing on public roads. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called upon federal regulators Tuesday to create a review process before allowing automated test vehicles to operate on public roads, based upon the agency’s investigation of a fatal collision between an Uber automated test vehicle […]
NHTSA Will Propose Upgrades to Vehicle Crash Test and Rating Program Next Year
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced its plan to propose updates and upgrades to the New Car Assessment Program in 2020. “NCAP is celebrating its 40-year anniversary, and we’re proud that it continues to encourage automakers to invest in safety,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator James Owens. “NHTSA’s Government 5-Star Safety […]
NHTSA, EPA Move to Revoke California Exemption on Fuel Economy Standards
Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took an initial step towards finalizing the proposed Safer, Affordable, Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule by issuing a final action entitled the “One National Program Rule,” which will enable the federal government to provide nationwide uniform fuel […]