Trump’s crew reportedly needs to finish NHTSA reporting requirement for automotive crashes involving automated techniques

In line with a report from Reuters, president-elect Donald Trump’s transition crew is making an attempt to kill a rule set by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) that requires automakers to report crashes if superior driver help know-how or automated driving techniques have been in use inside 30 seconds of the crash. The NHTSA issued the Standing General Order in 2021, stating that its purpose is to collect knowledge that might assist it establish potential issues of safety.

The info has been utilized in investigations into crashes involving six firms thus far, together with Tesla and GM’s Cruise (which is shutting down its robotaxi program as of this week). Tesla “despises” the reporting requirement and believes the information may very well be deceptive to customers, Reuters stories, citing sources near Tesla executives. In a doc seen by Reuters, the transition crew answerable for making a 100-day technique for automotive coverage reportedly advisable that the incoming administration repeal the requirement, saying it requires “extreme” knowledge assortment.

It’s unknown whether or not Elon Musk — who donated over $250 million to assist Trump get elected and was chosen to steer the brand new “Department of Government Efficiency” alongside Vivek Ramaswamy — had any hand within the suggestion. Tesla has reported over 1,500 crashes, and accounted for 40 out of 45 deadly crashes reported to the NHTSA beneath this system, Reuters stories. However, in keeping with College of South Carolina legislation professor Bryant Walker Smith, who spoke to Reuters, Tesla has extra automobiles on the highway with superior driver help know-how and collects extra real-time crash knowledge than different firms, which may make for a disproportionate variety of incidents reported.