Trump Team Advocates for End to Car Crash Reporting Rule Opposed by Tesla

According to a document viewed by Reuters, the Trump transition team is pushing for a significant policy shift that could alter the landscape of vehicle safety in the U.S. The team has proposed scrapping a key car-crash reporting rule, a move that has been long championed by Elon Musk and his company, Tesla. This recommendation is part of a broader strategy to reshape automotive policy within the first 100 days of the incoming administration.

The rule currently mandates that automakers report any crashes where advanced driver-assistance systems or autonomous technologies were active within 30 seconds prior to the incident. Critics of the rule, including Tesla, argue that it imposes excessive data collection burdens on manufacturers, stifling innovation in the automotive industry. Tesla, having reported over 1,500 incidents under this regulation to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has been particularly vocal about its drawbacks.

This proposed removal could significantly benefit Tesla, which has faced multiple NHTSA investigations linked to its Autopilot feature. The absence of such data could, however, complicate NHTSA’s efforts to monitor and regulate the safety of automated-driving systems, potentially impacting the agency’s ability to conduct thorough investigations and enforce recalls.

Supporters of the current regulation fear that eliminating it could obscure patterns in crash data crucial for improving vehicle safety. Former NHTSA officials have emphasized the importance of this rule in enabling the agency to identify and address emerging safety issues.

The timing of this recommendation is also noteworthy as Elon Musk, who contributed significantly to Trump’s presidential campaign, has been advocating for less restrictive federal regulations on autonomous vehicles. In a recent Tesla earnings call, Musk lamented the challenges of navigating state laws, which he described as ‘incredibly painful.’

As the debate heats up, the automotive industry and safety advocates are keenly awaiting the administration’s decision, which could have far-reaching implications for the future of transportation safety.