There Auto Be A Law

This week we pushed through the muck that is the Terms of Service for Uber, Waymo and Tesla's Robo-Taxi. In summary you are agreeing to give up your rights, likeness and dignity just so you can ride in a car without a human behind the wheel. Strange times.

Safety is not why new cars are expensive but higher prices make consumers hold onto older, less safe cars. Waymo continues the usual nonsense from them and their PR, paid and unpaid, shills. NHTSA gives Tesla more time to explain why FSD fails. More news on Chinese counterfeit airbags and Ford gives us some recalls.Support the show! Donate.https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/sacrificing-safety-is-not-the-way-to-make-cars-affordablehttps://philkoopman.substack.com/p/the-waymo-school-bus-problemhttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/01/feds-give-tesla-another-five-weeks-to-respond-to-fsd-probe/https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/urgent-warning-two-more-deaths-substandard-dangerous-chinese-air-bag-inflatorshttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2026/01/13/states-earbuds-headphones-legal-while-driving/88147204007/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V009-9507.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V012-0477.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V011-0611.pdf

Anthony says don't get into a Tesla because of their manual door release mechanisms make it "difficult" to escape. New legislative efforts are highlighted, which aim to standardize electric door latch locations. The team also critiques an autonomous driving bill opposed due to its impacts on state regulations and consumer protections. Insight is shared on the push for better automatic emergency braking systems, including the importance of detecting diverse road users. The conversation covers the dangers of AI assistance in cars, privacy issues, and the push to bring back physical buttons for essential controls. Recalls from Volvo and Rivian spotlight the continuing challenges in vehicle safety. Support the show!https://www.statesman.com/business/technology/article/us-house-autonomous-self-driving-vehicles-21281505.phphttps://www.theverge.com/transportation/860935/mercedes-drive-pilot-level-3-scrappedhttps://junkoyoshidaparis.substack.com/p/nvidia-pulling-an-elon-might-havehttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/01/in-car-ai-assistant-coming-to-fords-and-lincolns-in-2027/https://www.sciencealert.com/car-manufacturers-asked-to-bring-back-old-fashioned-controlshttps://insideevs.com/news/784109/hyundai-motional-las-vegas-launch-2026/https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/amazon-used-cars-can-list-open-recalls-without-warnings/ar-AA1TduLVhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V001-2847.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V003-2661.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V908-4055.pdf

Happy New Year! We're back discussing the reckless claim by Elon that you can text and drive, the magical claims from the Consumer Electronics show, the success of the NYC congestion pricing and if a company really made charging slower for coffee enjoyment. Much more and recalls.Support the show!https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c783qd14zl7ohttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/01/mercedes-teaches-its-driver-assist-how-to-handle-surface-streets/https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/mbdrive-assist-pro-is-level-2-plushttps://insideevs.com/news/783380/first-production-ready-all-solid-state-battery-official-specs/https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/self-driving-cars/self-driving-cars-could-prevent-over-1-million-road-injuries-across-the-us-by-2035/ar-AA1TyBS8https://electrek.co/2026/01/04/convoy-electric-semi-brand-sany-pairs-autonomy-with-human-experience/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/05/upshot/congestion-pricing-one-year.htmlhttps://www.autosafety.org/autonomous-vehicle-checklist/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V903-7748.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V896-2258.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V899-5489.pdf

Happy New Year! We endured another year of Elon's lies, Waymo's PR team and the continuing AI nonsense. As the year is over we cover crown a winner for Gaslighter of the Year and make some predictions for 2026.Support the show!https://junkoyoshidaparis.substack.com/p/waymo-dodgeball-dodge-duck-dip-divehttps://apnews.com/article/minnesota-kia-hyundai-theft-settlement-d2dc13dcee3fa65494d4df9f089dd386https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/24/tiktok-tea-tyme-hit-pedestrian-chicagohttps://www.carscoops.com/2025/12/fords-calling-out-congress-over-affordability-hearing-and-teslas-the-reason-why/https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/now-we-know-the-fee-for-puking-in-a-tesla-robotaxi/ar-AA1ThKcjhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V885-4683.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V893-5513.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V894-5559.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOA-DP25002-34954.pdf

A power outage leaves Waymo's stranded physically and metaphorically as they, in our opinion, try to figure out who to blame. Tesla is finally told they cannot use the term "autopilot" to sell a feature that is not "autopilot". Uber doesn't seem to care if they hire criminals, New Hampshire thinks safety inspections are no longer needed and some Senators try to make autonomous vehicles stick to an operating design domain. Plus recalls.Support the only show that pulls the curtain back on tech-bro nonsense.https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/us/waymo-san-francisco-power-earthquake.htmlhttps://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/waymo-san-francisco-power-outage-21255470.phphttps://electrek.co/2025/12/17/ca-judge-rules-tesla-lied-about-fsd-must-fix-marketing-within-60-days/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/business/uber-background-checks-sexual-assault.htmlhttps://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-and-blumenthal-introduce-new-safety-legislation-for-self-driving-carshttps://carnewschina.com/2025/12/06/baidus-robotaxi-causes-accident-in-a-central-city-of-china-leaves-two-in-intensive-care/https://www.jalopnik.com/2053325/new-hampshire-rid-car-inspections/https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/amazons-zoox-recall-332-us-vehicles-over-software-error-nhtsa-says-2025-12-23/https://www.autosafety.org/autonomous-vehicle-checklist/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V857-8946.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V859-5125.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V863-7819.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V882-4922.pdf

NHTSA works to modernize safety standards for AVs Arizona might try adding speed inhibitors to cars of speeder, and Rivian goes more Tesla with talk of full autonomy. Waymo still can't handle school buses but they are watching their passengers give birth. Fred adds to the AV regulators checklist and we've got a couple of recalls.Support Safety. Support the show.https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/modernizing-safety-standards-for-automated-vehicleshttps://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/10/31/arizona-to-consider-speed-limiting-devices-to-improve-road-safety/https://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/news/2025/12/13/tesla-grok-ai-serious-concerns/87070442007/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/san-francisco-woman-gives-birth-in-waymohttps://abc7.com/post/los-angeles-viral-video-mom-daughter-find-stranger-trunk-waymo-macarthur-park/18286019/https://futurism.com/advanced-transport/waymo-school-bushttps://apnews.com/article/f150-pickup-ford-vehicle-thefts-technology-242273a5e3aeb0203535c5cd2ee85c89https://www.autosafety.org/autonomous-vehicle-checklist/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25E084-7732.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V846-0479.pdf

The auto industry still doesn't like AEB and listeners have a cynical take on why. Waymo has the best PR and enlists a doctor/investor to carry water for them. And Waymo can't understand school bus stop signs in Texas. Maybe move some of that PR money to safety engineering? Elon encourages his customer to break the law and Hyundai has a unique recall.Support the show! Support safety!https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/president-trump-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-unveil-new-freedom-meanshttps://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/trump-fuel-economy-rollback-may-make-cars-cheaper-higher-gas-bills-will-absorb-2025-12-08/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2025/12/05/trump-wants-u-s-carmakers-to-make-a-tiny-car-why-it-wont-happen/87602253007/https://electrek.co/2025/12/04/elon-musk-tesla-fsd-drivers-can-now-text-drive/https://www.autoblog.com/news/all-of-russias-porsches-were-bricked-by-a-mysterious-satellite-outagehttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOT-PE25013-30888P1.pdfhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/officials-expand-probe-into-waymo-over-robotaxis-driving-around-school-buses/ar-AA1RNTBOhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/opinion/self-driving-cars.htmlhttps://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/12/the-amount-gm-spent-on-its-defunct-cruise-robotaxi-service-will-shock-you/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V816-8746.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V826-4232.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V836-4853.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V833-5047.pdf

We start with the importance of proper child car seat fitting during winter coat season. Some progress is being made towards a "female" crash test dummy and Congress plays into the stereotype of being dummies by suggesting safety is too expensive. And the AI nonsense train rolls on.Support the show! Support Safety!https://www.msn.com/en-us/family-and-relationships/parenting/how-do-winter-coats-impact-your-child-s-car-seat-effectiveness/ar-AA1RtFwOhttps://www.npr.org/2025/11/21/g-s1-98694/crash-test-dummy-resembles-womenhttps://www.wsj.com/business/autos/senate-committee-to-challenge-auto-safety-mandates-that-hurt-affordability-43944765?https://www.jalopnik.com/2032529/new-york-wants-to-ban-car-subscriptions/https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-AI-Useful-Progress/dp/191739148X https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V807-4146.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V808-2163.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V796-7086.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V794-5581.pdf

This is a re-run of an episode we did with Phil Koopman from last July. Still worthy of a listen. The original show notes are here:https://www.autosafety.org/podcast/artificial-intelligence-and-auto-safety-with-phil-koopman-part-2/