Trump Team Recommends Scrapping NHTSA's Crash Reporting Rule, Benefiting Tesla

Dec 13, 2024, 01:13 PM

The Trump administration's transition team has recommended the repeal of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulation that requires automakers to report crashes involving vehicles with automated driving systems. This rule, opposed by Tesla Inc. and Elon Musk, mandates that manufacturers report accidents where such systems are engaged within 30 seconds of the incident. Tesla, which has reported over 1,500 crashes under this rule, including 40 out of 45 fatal incidents analyzed by NHTSA, stands to benefit from the potential scrapping of this requirement. The recommendation aims to 'liberalize' regulations on autonomous vehicles and enforce 'minimal regulations' to foster industry development. Critics argue that removing this reporting obligation could hinder the government's ability to investigate and regulate the safety of vehicles with advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving technologies.