Trump Team Reportedly Seeking to Repeal Rule Requiring Self-Driving Crash Reporting

As per reports from Reuters, Donald Trump’s transition team is aiming to overturn a rule that mandates automakers to report all incidents involving autonomous vehicles. This move, if successful, would particularly benefit Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a supporter of Trump, whose vehicles were involved in the majority of fatal crashes reported to the NHTSA, totaling 40 out of 45 up to October 15th.

The rule in question, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2021, compels companies to notify the agency of accidents where automated driving systems are active within 30 seconds of the incident. The Trump team labeled this requirement as excessive data collection in a document outlining a 100-day automotive policy strategy, but it remains uncertain if Trump will endorse this proposal.

Removing this reporting rule could impede the NHTSA’s ability to identify crash patterns, according to two anonymous NHTSA employees who shared concerns with Reuters. The potential influence of Elon Musk, a major donor to Trump’s campaign, on the team’s decision is also murky.

In a separate development, Trump is pushing for easier deployment of autonomous vehicles by car manufacturers, despite previously expressing reservations about self-driving cars during his campaign. Tesla, along with other automakers like Ford and GM, is grappling with scrutiny over their autonomous driving technologies and their involvement in fatal accidents.

The landscape surrounding self-driving vehicles is becoming increasingly complex, with industry giants navigating regulatory challenges and safety concerns amidst ongoing technological advancements.