U.S. Moves to Ease Safety Rules for Self-Driving Vehicles in Bid to Boost Innovation

The U.S. Transportation Department announced on Thursday a new regulatory framework aimed at accelerating the deployment of autonomous vehicles by relaxing certain safety requirements and modifying incident reporting obligations. The move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to strengthen the competitiveness of domestic automakers against international rivals, particularly those from China.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the initiative reflects a shift toward prioritizing innovation in the race to commercialize self-driving technology. “This administration understands that we’re in a race with China to out-innovate, and the stakes couldn’t be higher,” Duffy said. “Our new framework will slash red tape.”

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Under the revised rules, some autonomous vehicles will be allowed to operate on U.S. roads without meeting certain federal motor vehicle safety standards that were originally designed for human drivers, such as requirements for rearview mirrors or brake pedals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will also expand its Automated Vehicle Exemption Program to include domestically produced self-driving cars, in addition to imports.

The framework also alters the timeline and criteria for reporting safety incidents. Carmakers will now be allowed to submit monthly reports for less severe crashes involving autonomous systems and will benefit from a new threshold for reporting property damage.

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The announcement comes amid growing industry pressure for regulatory clarity and flexibility. Tesla, which is under investigation by NHTSA following a fatal crash involving its Full-Self Driving software, has frequently pledged to launch robotaxi services in the near future. Other players, including Alphabet’s Waymo, have also announced expansion plans, with Waymo targeting a launch of its autonomous ride-hailing service in Washington, D.C. next year.

Industry groups welcomed the new measures. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents nearly all major automakers, said the announcement sends a clear signal of urgency. “This announcement shows the administration is also proceeding with a sense of urgency, so we don’t cede AV leadership to China and other countries,” the group said.

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Not all stakeholders expressed support. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety voiced concern that the revisions could undermine public safety. “Without safeguards, safety regulations, transparency and accountability, the success of AV deployment is imperiled at best and could result in deadly consequences at worst,” the group said.

General Motors, which filed a petition in 2022 to deploy up to 2,500 autonomous vehicles annually without manual controls, withdrew its request last year after regulatory review delays. The company later suspended funding for its Cruise robotaxi business following a serious pedestrian injury incident and a subsequent $500,000 criminal fine tied to the case.

The Department of Transportation’s updated approach underscores a balancing act between fostering innovation and maintaining public trust in emerging autonomous technologies.