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The Trump administration's Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed removing the federal requirement for brake pedals in vehicles designed to be driven exclusively by automated driving systems. The move is seen as a major boost for companies like Tesla and Zoox, which are developing purpose-built autonomous vehicles without traditional human controls Source: TechCrunch.
The proposal updates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, which governs brake systems, to drop the mandate for hand- or foot-operated brake controls in fully autonomous vehicles. Other braking performance requirements, including stopping distance standards, would remain in place Source: The Next Web. The public has 30 days to comment before the DOT decides whether to approve the changes.
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison framed the proposal as "tearing down pointless barriers to innovative designs while strengthening the fundamental safety requirements that matter" Source: Gizmodo. The proposal is part of a series of FMVSS updates under the Trump DOT, following earlier changes to requirements for windshield wipers and tire placards Source: TechCrunch.
“The rule change, if adopted, would eliminate one of the largest remaining regulatory barriers for companies building purpose-built autonomous vehicles without traditional human controls.”
“Under the current rules, all cars, no matter how autonomous they are designed to be, require hand or foot-operated manual brake controls.”
“The proposal, if adopted, would remove a major regulatory barrier for companies like Tesla and Zoox, which are developing vehicles intended to be fully autonomous, without a steering wheel or pedals.”