Trump’s staff reportedly desires to finish NHTSA reporting requirement for automotive crashes involving automated techniques

Based on a report from Reuters, president-elect Donald Trump’s transition staff is attempting to kill a rule set by the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) that requires automakers to report crashes if superior driver help expertise 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 objective is to collect knowledge that would assist it determine potential questions of safety.

The info has been utilized in investigations into crashes involving six corporations up to now, 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 shoppers, Reuters reviews, citing sources near Tesla executives. In a doc seen by Reuters, the transition staff in command of making a 100-day technique for automotive coverage reportedly really helpful 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 guide the brand new “Department of Government Efficiency” alongside Vivek Ramaswamy — had any hand within the advice. Tesla has reported over 1,500 crashes, and accounted for 40 out of 45 deadly crashes reported to the NHTSA, Reuters reviews. However, based on College of South Carolina legislation professor Bryant Walker Smith, who spoke to Reuters, Tesla has extra automobiles on the highway with superior driver help expertise and collects extra real-time crash knowledge than different corporations, which may make for a disproportionate variety of incidents reported.