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In a notable development, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has chosen to uphold the existing regulation from the Biden administration that mandates automakers and technology firms to report accidents involving fully or partially autonomous vehicles. However, notable adjustments are being made that could significantly influence one particular company in this sector.
Initially established in 2021, the standing general order (SGO) issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires companies to report incidents when automated driving systems were active within 30 seconds of a crash. This regulation also encompasses Level 2 driver-assist systems, which are prevalent in millions of vehicles currently on the roads.
Reports from Reuters revealed last year that the Trump transition team was contemplating the repeal of this crash-reporting rule, reportedly at the request of Tesla. The company’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving functionalities fall under this regulation, and since its inception, Tesla has detailed over 1,500 crashes to federal authorities, with investigations indicating that the company was involved in 40 of the 45 fatal accidents reported under the SGO.
The USDOT continues to uphold the rule but has introduced adjustments. A revamped Automated Vehicle Framework released on Thursday retains the SGO while aiming to simplify reporting requirements by eliminating redundant steps. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, stated that the revised framework seeks to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, fostering a standardized approach that enhances both innovation and safety.
Previously, the SGO dictated that if a vehicle equipped with Level 2 technology experienced a crash warranting a tow or airbag deployment, the incident had to be reported within five days, regardless of whether it resulted in fatalities or involved vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
Under the new guidelines, the obligation to report crashes has been narrowed to vehicles with Level 4 automated systems—such as those utilized by Waymo. Now, incidents involving Level 2 vehicles that do not lead to fatalities or injuries to vulnerable road users are exempt from reporting. This shift is particularly advantageous to Tesla, as its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capabilities qualify as Level 2 systems.
Sam Abuelsamid, a market research VP at Telemetry who specializes in autonomous vehicle technologies, emphasized that this change significantly alleviates reporting burdens on Tesla, which has historically faced scrutiny due to a high volume of SGO reports emanating from its fleet. With the new regulation in place, many of these reports will no longer be required.
In a previous report, Reuters noted internal sentiments from various sources close to Tesla expressed disdain for the standing general order, with CEO Elon Musk indicating that a shift in governmental leadership was necessary for any significant changes to occur. Musk’s support for Trump during the campaign was widely recognized, with substantial personal financial contributions to the campaign.
This alteration in policy will likely result in reduced negative exposure for Tesla regarding accidents involving its vehicles, alongside diminished public insight into the safety performance of different manufacturers.
Moreover, the USDOT has broadened the scope of its Automated Vehicle Exemption Program (AVEP) to include domestically produced vehicles, previously limited to imports. Experts speculate this program has primarily benefited low-speed autonomous shuttle vehicles, notably those created by French manufacturer Navya, which have participated in various pilot initiatives across the U.S.
Officials from the USDOT are presenting these modifications as a means to empower AV developers to operate more effectively while alleviating the administrative load imposed by government regulations.
Peter Simshauser, Chief Counsel for NHTSA, remarked that by streamlining crash reporting processes and expanding exemptions, the USDOT is facilitating faster development cycles for AV manufacturers. He emphasized that these adjustments are foundational steps towards fostering a more conducive environment for the next evolution of automotive technology in America.
Source
www.theverge.com