NHTSA proposes updating brake rules for driverless cars
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Table of Contents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed changing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, which covers light vehicle brakes. The goal is to allow vehicles equipped with automated driving systems that lack traditional steering wheels or pedals to meet federal safety standards.
Why it matters: This update removes regulatory barriers for manufacturers developing fully autonomous vehicles. Without this change, companies building cars without pedals or steering wheels could not legally certify their vehicles under current brake rules. It allows these new designs to be tested and potentially deployed without violating outdated equipment mandates.
Who it affects
- Manufacturers of automated driving systems and self-driving vehicles
This proposed rule was published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the Federal Register; check the original document for full legal text and comment deadlines.
Agency: Transportation Department, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Source: Federal Register — read the official document