There Auto Be A Law

NHTSA is wrapping up the new year with new rules for whistleblowers, event data recorders and seatbelt warnings. Waymo is the highlight for the 'Gaslight of the Week' due to misleading safety certifications for its autonomous vehicle program. Donald Trump is likely to scrap a rule on crash reporting for autonomous vehicles. Bench seats might be coming back. And recent automotive recalls and potential cybersecurity threats associated with software-defined vehicles.Donate to support this podcasthttps://www.wsj.com/articles/top-u-s-auto-safety-regulator-finalizes-whistleblower-program-rules-bd13316chttps://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/nhtsa-finalizes-seat-belt-reminder-rule-increase-seat-belt-use-improve-occupanthttps://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-29862.pdfhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-is-probably-going-to-kill-the-crash-reporting-rule-that-made-tesla-look-bad/ar-AA1vOXkAhttps://waymo.com/blog/2024/12/waymos-first-responder-program-receives-independent-safety-confirmation/https://www.tuvsud.com/en-us/resource-centre/white-papers/automated-driving-requires-international-regulationshttps://www.sae.org/standards/content/avsc-d-02-2024/https://www.sae.org/news/2024/11/cybersecurity-for-software-defined-vehicleshttps://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a63183166/bench-seat-comeback/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2022/RCLRPT-22V420-1957.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V918-4585.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V925-5571.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V920-3537.PDF

GM finally listened to us and/or did some basic math and realized that GM Cruise was a dumpster fire that needed to be extinguished. Imagine what they could have done with the $10 Billion they squandered.A recent AAA survey covers risky driver behaviors and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's findings that vehicle height increases pedestrian injury severity. Consumer Reports' reliability and owner satisfaction surveys show that Rivians are unreliable but make their owners happy. And troubling statistics from Kids in Car Safety about cars stolen with children inside.Join the Fight for Safer Cars!Linkshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/12/10/gm-cruise-scraps-robotaxi/https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/vehicle-height-compounds-dangers-of-speed-for-pedestrianshttps://newsroom.aaa.com/2024/12/the-deadly-trio-on-u-s-roads-speeding-distractions-and-aggression/https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/most-and-least-liked-car-brands-a1291429338/https://www.msn.com/en-za/technology/tech-companies/family-blames-elon-musk-for-son-s-death-while-driving-tesla-in-autopilot-mode/ar-AA1vuKNHhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/general/nearly-a-dozen-cars-stolen-with-kids-left-inside-over-thanksgiving-car-safety-group-warns/ar-AA1vlNw0https://jalopnik.com/missouri-has-the-most-dangerous-traffic-laws-in-the-u-s-1851715759https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V896-3848.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V900-4741.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V898-1694.PDF

This episode delves into the effectiveness of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in keeping drivers engaged, the risks posed by partial automation, and the need for regulatory oversight. We highlight issues with Tesla's approach to autonomous driving, including its reliance on remote operators. Recalls for vehicles from Pagani, GM, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche are discussed, emphasizing ongoing problems like water intrusion and rearview camera failures. The episode closes with listener mail addressing seatbelt comfort for short women and a general call for improved vehicle safety features.Links:https://www.autosafety.org/support-us/https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/partial-automation-that-allows-some-manual-steering-may-help-keep-drivers-engagedhttps://www.npr.org/2024/12/02/nx-s1-5165290/crash-prevention-technology-aeb-debatehttps://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/nhtsa-opens-inquiry-into-fiery-piedmont-cybertruck-crash-that-killed-3/ar-AA1v0Pw3https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/26/tesla-appears-to-be-building-a-teleoperations-team-for-its-robotaxi-service/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/12/nightmare-zipcar-outage-is-a-warning-against-complete-app-dependency/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48526-4https://techxplore.com/news/2024-12-autonomous-vehicle-safety-prefixer-sensor.htmlhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V891-4776.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V894-9506.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V879-3883.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V874-2474.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V889-9718.PDF

Happy Thanksgiving listeners!This week we share our top ten things we are thankful for in car safety. Highlights include the Tesla Cybertruck and full self-driving technology, NHTSA's recent improvements and penalties, and shout-outs to people and organizations contributing to automotive safety such as the anonymous engineers that make cars safer.Links:https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/debunking-tesla-safest-car-on-the?r=1tnaed&triedRedirect=truehttps://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/nhtsa-releases-2024-early-estimates-decrease-traffic-fatalitieshttps://www.torquenews.com/17995/five-ways-prevent-your-tesla-killing-youhttps://www.aol.com/finance/gen-z-might-safest-generation-174820842.htmlhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCAK-24V868-3172.pdfhttps://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-27349.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V872-9710.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V877-1247.PDF

Topics:Kudos to NHTSA for NCAP improvements;Frowns to Ford for recalls;New DOT secretary;Will Washington rubber stamp all of Elon's dreams?Tesla drivers are dangerous;Tesla's will trap you in a fire;Renewable natural gas explained;Recall roundup;Links:https://apnews.com/article/automobile-safety-nhtsa-crash-pedestrian-2fc22f755c51bfe9bb668f90e8ee8956https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2024/11/16/nhtsa-pedestrian-safety-rule-vehicle-design-head-protection/76094618007/https://apnews.com/article/trump-duffy-cabinet-transportation-secretary-c465bbc516b5f898233f86bee31a7a45https://www.freep.com/story/news/investigations/2024/11/14/nhtsa-ford-vehicle-recall-rules-penalty/76293055007/https://jalopnik.com/teslas-are-the-most-fatal-cars-on-the-road-study-finds-1851700691https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/people-are-still-being-burned-alivehttps://www.catf.us/resource/flaring-accountability/https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/self-driving-cars/https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Missy-Cummings/publication/385936888_Identifying_Research_Gaps_through_Self-Driving_Car_Data_Analysis/links/673c687ab903016a31c41bfb/Identifying-Research-Gaps-through-Self-Driving-Car-Data-Analysis.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V843-7446.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V839-5482.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V852-6661.PDF

Topics:Rivian and Volkswagen join forces;NHTSA kinda sorta asks Tesla to clear up it's communications around cars that drive themselves;What will Elon's department of efficiency mean for auto safety?Fred deep dives into duty of care with a focus on hazard mitigation;Recalls and rusting cybertrucks;and moreLinks:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/business/volkswagen-rivian-electric-vehicles.htmlhttps://www.autosafety.org/us-agency-says-teslas-public-statements-imply-that-its-vehicles-can-drive-themselves-they-cant/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/13/department-of-government-efficiency-musk-ramaswamy/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gm-bicyclist-alert-technology-standard-110315432.htmlhttps://insideevs.com/news/740529/hyundai-touchscreen-physical-buttons/https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/california-agency-boosts-reporting-requirements-for-autonomous-vehicle-incidents/ar-AA1tHGEohttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V797-1282.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V838-2270.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V832-7628.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V829-2369.PDFMake a donation today.

Deep breaths... Hummer EV, what the election means for NHTSA, regulations and everything related to safety. Are LED headlights too brights? Zoox and Tesla have a spat. It's a new world.This weeks links:https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/11/driving-the-biggest-least-efficient-electric-car-the-hummer-ev-suv/https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/2/24285399/amazon-zoox-robotaxi-nhtsa-fmvss-complyhttps://electrek.co/2024/10/31/elon-musk-snaps-at-zoox-co-founder-over-critical-tesla-fsd-comments/https://electrek.co/2024/11/04/tesla-updated-its-summon-feature-now-this-owner-cant-get-to-his-car/https://www.theguardian.com/global/2024/oct/31/headlights-too-brighthttps://jalopnik.com/fuel-doors-should-always-be-on-the-passenger-side-do-n-1851689173https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V798-1656.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V794-3598.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V812-2619.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V814-5848.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V802-9220.PDF

This week: we start by examining the hype around robo-taxis and their impact on public transportation improvements in automatic emergency braking technology, citing a recent study by AAA, yet highlighting its limitations at higher speeds. Automotive data privacy and consumers' right to control data collected by vehicles, emphasizing the need for regulation. the challenge of detecting and regulating marijuana impairment in driversa discussion on planned obsolescence and its implications for the longevity and safety of vehicles.and moreLinks:https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-24/robotaxis-aren-t-going-to-help-save-public-transportationhttps://www.theverge.com/2024/10/24/24276802/automatic-emergency-braking-aeb-forward-collision-aaahttps://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/other/one-country-is-dominating-american-safety-ratings-and-its-not-the-us/ar-AA1t2V8Dhttps://www.wtap.com/2024/10/28/data-driven-consumer-disclosure-report-exposes-not-just-home-addresses-driving-habits/https://www.ttnews.com/articles/aurora-autonomous-riskhttps://electrek.co/2024/10/23/ford-ceo-doesnt-want-to-give-up-this-chinese-ev-hes-driving/https://www.mlive.com/news/2024/10/police-stuck-with-old-imperfect-tactics-to-decide-who-is-too-high-to-drive.htmlhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V767-7425.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V770-2912.PDF

Topics this week: the decline in all-rider helmet lawsthe historical impact of the 1964 'chicken tax' on the dominance of SUVs, the ongoing issues with Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving' and Summon features. the challenges faced by first responders with electric vehiclesthe intricacies of autonomous vehicle perception technologyrecallsLinks:https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/lax-helmet-laws-have-killed-more-than-20-000-motorcyclists-study-showshttps://www.nsc.org/road/resources/road-to-zero/massive-hazards-new-rtz-report-on-light-truckshttps://apnews.com/article/tesla-full-self-driving-investigation-pedestrian-killed-f2121166d60d85bd173a734c91049e73https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/no-one-in-the-car-self-driving-app-raises-questions-after-maryland-crash/3746690/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/tesla-crash-after-police-pursuit-highlights-challenges-electric-cars-pose-for-1st-responders-1.7335290https://jalopnik.com/gateway/these-are-the-worst-experiences-youve-had-selling-a-car-1851678885https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-reintroduces-school-bus-safety-acthttps://www.wsj.com/tech/waymo-san-francisco-self-driving-robotaxis-uber-244feecfhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/chrysler-surges-ahead-in-the-recall-race/ar-AA1sHsNZhttps://www.ford.ca/technology/connected-services/bluecruise/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyzRwXowJDIhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V763-9335.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V757-9102.PDF

This week we debunk Elon Musk’s grandiose claims about Tesla's Robo Taxi, highlighting regulatory and safety hurdles, and the inflated value of Tesla’s stock driven by speculative products. Regulators can't seem to keep up with the new safety needs of autonomous vehicles and Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2X) but Gatik AI is making an effort by adopting UL4600. The EU states the obvious - the CyberTruck is for people that don't care about people and recall roundup.This weeks links:https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/elon-musk-tesla-robotaxi-acfc5e3bhttps://www.wsj.com/business/autos/elon-musk-tesla-robotaxi-acfc5e3bhttps://www.iihs.org/news/detail/automakers-quickly-improve-seat-belt-reminders-in-response-to-iihs-ratingshttps://cse.engin.umich.edu/stories/protecting-connected-self-driving-vehicles-from-hackershttps://www.ttnews.com/articles/gatik-ai-autonomous-audithttps://www.wired.com/story/a-rubberized-cybertruck-is-ploughing-through-european-pedestrian-safety-rules/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crl8187l920ohttps://www.npr.org/2024/10/09/nx-s1-5147420/honda-recall-steering-problem-civichttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V748-8424.PDFhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V739-1481.PDF