According to a report from Reuters, president-elect Donald Trump’s transition staff is making an attempt to kill a rule set by the National Highway Traffic Safety 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 assemble information that might assist it establish potential issues of safety.
The information 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 info could possibly be deceptive to shoppers, Reuters stories, citing sources near Tesla executives. In a doc seen by Reuters, the transition staff answerable for making a 100-day technique for automotive coverage reportedly really helpful that the incoming administration repeal the requirement, saying it requires “extreme” information 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 suggestion. Tesla has reported over 1,500 crashes, and accounted for 40 out of 45 deadly crashes reported to the NHTSA, Reuters stories. But, in keeping with University of South Carolina legislation professor Bryant Walker Smith, who spoke to Reuters, Tesla has extra vehicles on the street with superior driver help know-how and collects extra real-time crash information than different firms, which might make for a disproportionate variety of incidents reported.
