GoKawiil
Tech News
NHTSA announced it will revise Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, which governs vehicle lighting rules last updated 25 years ago. Administrator Jonathan Morrison said the agency will bring together up to 18 industry stakeholders, safety advocates and technical experts, appointed by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, to review LED headlights, dusk sensors, automatic high beams and adaptive driving beam systems.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is beginning a negotiated rulemaking process to revise the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards governing vehicle headlights, aiming to finalize new rules by 2026. NHTSA's Jonathan Morrison said the effort will bring together industry experts and stakeholders to modernize outdated standards and address glare concerns.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has partnered with SAE International on a new initiative called ASCEND, aimed at creating standardized, data-driven performance benchmarks for automated driving systems. The effort comes as regulators grapple with vehicles like the Tesla Cybercab and Zoox robotaxi, which lack pedals, steering wheels, and mirrors required under existing federal vehicle safety rules. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said the goal is to build a framework that prioritizes safety without forcing the agency into reactive, case-by-case policymaking.
Shortly after Tesla began testing its pedal-free, steering-wheel-free Cybercab on Austin streets, the NHTSA opened an audit into whether the vehicle complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The agency has since issued a Special Order demanding Tesla certify under oath that the Cybercab meets these rules by September 30, with noncompliance risking fines up to $139 million and possible prison time for falsified claims.