NHTSA Rule Changes Favor Autonomous Cars - CleanTechnica

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing significant updates to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to accommodate the rise of autonomous vehicles (AVs) that operate without human drivers. Current FMVSS rules, established decades ago, mandate features like accelerator pedals, brake pedals, and steering wheels, which are irrelevant for fully autonomous cars. Recognizing this, NHTSA announced plans to modernize these standards by removing requirements tied to manual controls, thereby reducing costs and enhancing safety for AVs. The proposed rule changes specifically target FMVSS No. 102, 103, 104, and 108, which cover transmission controls, windshield defrosting and wiping systems, and vehicle lighting—areas that assume human driver interaction. Beyond technical adjustments, NHTSA’s initiative aims to create a unified national regulatory framework that supports innovation while prioritizing safety. The agency emphasizes preventing a fragmented patchwork of state laws and regulations that could hinder the deployment of autonomous