There Auto Be A Law

Phil Koopman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University with expertise in autonomous vehicle safety, discusses the intersection of AI and auto safety. He shines a light on the common misconceptions about AI, emphasizing its limitations and potential errors in self-driving systems. The conversation navigates the legal hurdles in updating frameworks for autonomous vehicles, alongside the challenges of maintaining safety in AI-driven cars. Through real-world examples, Koopman distinguishes the capabilities of human drivers from robotic systems, urging for improved standards in safety engineering.

The podcast dives into hazardous robo-taxis and the government's failure in public safety. It critiques the exemption process for non-compliant vehicles and examines the ethical dilemmas posed by automated driving systems. Humor mixes with serious discussions on the safety of autonomous vehicles, while concerns over AI decision-making and potential biases are raised. The dark side of innovation is highlighted, revealing tragic statistics on road deaths, particularly affecting vulnerable communities. The economic toll of traffic crashes sparks urgent calls for better safety regulations.

The podcast dives into Tesla's controversial attempt to shield crash data from public scrutiny. It raises concerns about the global disparity in safety standards for automotive technology. The chaos of California traffic and protests against autonomous vehicles are vividly discussed, revealing tensions between innovation and public safety. Highlights include the risks of transporting electric cars, particularly battery fires, and the spotlight on Waymo's commitment to safety versus profit. The need for transparency in the auto industry is a recurring theme, enriched with humor and skepticism.

The podcast dives into the implications of a controversial bill that limits state regulations on AI, sparking safety concerns. Tesla's plans for robo-taxis are met with skepticism, especially regarding their unreliable camera systems. New Jersey's decision to cut ties with Tesla for supercharging stations raises eyebrows about the company's future. The discussion contrasts Tesla's self-driving tech with Waymo's, pointing out significant safety gaps. Overall, the urgency for better regulations and accountability in autonomous vehicle technology echoes throughout the conversation.

The podcast opens with a fiery debate on the Trump administration's move to lower fuel economy standards and its effect on electric vehicles. The conversation dives into quirky turn signal colors, revealing why the U.S. sticks with red while Europe prefers amber. Safety concerns around autonomous vehicles unfold as the hosts discuss Aurora Innovation's return to human drivers. Lightning's staggering power is humorously examined, emphasizing the safety of being in a car during a strike. Finally, Tesla and Waymo's self-driving technologies face scrutiny in a tense showdown.

The hosts dive into NHTSA's probing questions about Tesla's robo-taxi, highlighting the regulatory oversight needed for autonomous driving. They tackle Waymo's recalls and assess the challenges posed by New York's congestion pricing. A humorous take on steering wheel safety positions transitions into serious concerns about hot car deaths and the adequacy of current safety measures. Finally, they examine recent automotive recalls and the implications of communication lapses in the industry.

Jeff Wishart, a Fellow at Science Foundation Arizona and VP of Innovation Mobility at the Arizona Commerce Authority, shares his expertise on automated vehicles. He dives into the significance of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) in assessing self-driving technology, emphasizing safety protocols and the challenges of regulatory standards. The conversation also touches on data transparency, software updates, and recent recalls in the autonomous vehicle sector, providing a fascinating glimpse into the future of automotive technology.

NHTSA updates the standing general order for ADAS interventions and amazingly this helps Tesla. Jeff Bezo's starts an electric truck company, electronic door handles still need a manual override, Fred repeats himself in the Tao and we've got recalls.Support the show!This weeks links:https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-unveils-new-automated-vehicle-frameworkhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/trump-updates-biden-s-robo-car-crash-reporting-rule-to-benefit-tesla/ar-AA1DyXJjhttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/04/amazon-backed-startup-wants-to-sell-a-bare-bones-ev-truck-for-20000/https://www.thestar.com/life/autos/technology-in-cars-is-being-used-to-make-choices-for-drivers-and-this-can-be/article_f835de30-f450-11ef-ad43-434b0d197953.htmlhttps://gothamist.com/news/feds-accidentally-publish-secret-plan-to-kill-nyc-congestion-pricinghttps://electrek.co/2025/04/28/ny-lawmakers-shut-down-teslas-stores/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25C006-4677.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V274-1598.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V259-8551.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V270-9214.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V273-8477.PDF

People don't want to buy Tesla's anymore and their earnings show it but fanboi's keep buying the stock cause they keep believing the same lies Elon has been spouting since at least 2016. When is a car company a cult? In more Tesla news a former engineer exposes Elon for not working that hard, regulators don't give into his bullying and the lawsuits keep coming. Canada needs to work on their own safety regulations, congestion pricing in New York City is a resounding success unless... you don't live in New York City or travel to New York City then it's bad cause... no idea. The Tao gets redundant and recalls.Support us.This weeks links:https://driving.ca/column/lorraine/us-gutting-regulatory-bodies-canada-has-to-step-uphttps://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/japan-mulls-reviewing-car-safety-rules-to-strike-deal-with-trump/ar-AA1Dfag1https://transalt.org/reports-list/yn29thckywv9n0qpsv4jb1ab07nryphttps://www.jalopnik.com/1836595/nyc-congestion-relief-pricing-results-100-days/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/04/17/hubris-maximus-excerpt-elon-musks-fury-over-tesla-death-investigation-foreshadowed-his-war-washington/https://electrek.co/2025/04/20/tesla-whistleblower-says-musk-wanted-to-deport-her-team-for-raising-brake-issue/https://futurism.com/cybertruck-disaster-productionhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V233-5862.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V239-8877.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V236-6954.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V246-9985.PDF

Trump's auto tariffs will make new cars cost more, old cars more expensive to repair and maintain and increase your insurance rates. A new lawsuit alleges that Telsa might be tampering with it's odometers. Public transit is safer in all metrics than driving. Fred explains why objects may be closer and we've got recalls.Support the show!This weeks links:https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/tariffs-buying-cars-ownership-expensive-a2a0b614https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-public-transit-really-safer-than-driving/https://calmatters.org/investigation/2025/04/key-takeaways-california-deadly-drivers/https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/04/car-safety-experts-at-nhtsa-which-regulates-tesla-axed-by-doge/https://electrek.co/2025/04/14/tesla-tsla-replace-computer-4-million-cars-or-compensate-their-owners/https://www.thestreet.com/automotive/tesla-accused-of-using-sneaky-tactic-to-dodge-car-repairshttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V201-4645.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V220-2748.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V221-8446.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V227-6955.PDF