NHTSA Delays and Phases In New Event Data Recorder Rules

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a final rule that pushes back and staggers the deadline for vehicles with event data recorders (EDRs) to meet new data capture standards. The original rule required all EDR-equipped vehicles made on or after September 1, 2027, to record twenty seconds of pre-crash data at a rate of ten times per second. Under the new rule, compliance is staggered over four years: twenty-five percent by September 2028, fifty percent by September 2029, seventy-five percent by September 2030, and full compliance by September 2031. Small-volume and multi-stage vehicle builders get until 2032 and 2033, respectively.

Why it matters: This rule does not change what data must be captured, only when manufacturers must start recording it. The practical effect is a longer runway for automakers to update their vehicle architectures without disrupting current production plans. It is largely an administrative adjustment to align federal timelines with automotive manufacturing cycles.

Who it affects

• Automakers and parts suppliers who install event data recorders in light vehicles

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This action was published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the Federal Register as a final rule; you should review the full document on regulations.gov before relying on the compliance dates or reporting requirements.

Agency: Transportation Department, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Source: Federal Register — read the official document