The U.S. Department of Transportation plans to pave a path for more self-driving cars on American roads by making a uniform set of rules instead of a patchwork of state and local regulations. Officials said Thursday that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is updating decades-old rules that never accounted for autonomous technology.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the three new regulations are designed to modernize the framework and replace standards written long before driverless vehicles existed.
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“The rules of the road need to be updated to fit the realities of the 21st century. Our changes will eliminate redundant requirements and bring us closer to a single national standard that spurs innovation and prioritizes safety,” Duffy said.
Three key changes to vehicle safety standards
NHTSA said the changes aim to provide self-driving cars a clear legal path nationwide while avoiding conflicting state rules. The updates, set for spring 2026, focus on vehicles built without steering wheels or pedals.
Under the new automated vehicle framework, one rule would modernize requirements for how transmissions shift and how vehicles start and stop. Another covers basic visibility such as defrosting, defogging and windshield wipers. The third would update standards for headlights, taillights and other vehicle lighting.
As part of the plan, the agency also wants to simplify its exemption process, which lets automakers sell up to 2,500 vehicles a year that don’t fully meet existing federal standards.
Industry reaction, calls for expanded access
Jeff Farrah, CEO of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, welcomed the new federal rules on self-driving cars.
“Today’s announcement is another strong step toward a federal framework for autonomous vehicles as outlined in Secretary Duffy’s innovation agenda. Earlier this year, the autonomous vehicle industry called for federal action on manual controls in our federal framework,” he said.
The National Council on Disability recently sent a report to Congress, President Donald Trump and other federal officials highlighting transportation challenges for people with mobility disabilities.
On July 23, the council outlined barriers these Americans face and urged policymakers to explore ways to expand transportation options, including access to autonomous vehicles.
Waymo, Tesla could benefit
Waymo leads the autonomous vehicle industry, operating a growing fleet in select U.S. cities. Tesla is developing self-driving technology through software updates and its “Full Self-Driving” package, but experts say it is still working toward full autonomy.
The proposed NHTSA updates could give both companies a clearer regulatory path to deploy vehicles nationwide, especially models built without steering wheels or pedals.
Groups urge caution on autonomous vehicles
Groups like Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety are not opposed to autonomous vehicles themselves, but they warn that deploying them without proper safeguards and regulations could put public safety at risk. Advocates recommend a people-and-safety-first approach to AV development, emphasizing that safety must come before a rush to market. Data from NHTSA shows 39,345 people died in U.S. car crashes in 2024, down roughly 4% from 2023, even as Americans drove slightly more.
In April, Duffy originally unveiled NHTSA’s automated vehicle framework, aimed at speeding up the rollout of self-driving cars.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety said at the time the changes don’t go far enough. They had urged NHTSA to improve transparency and accountability by requiring more detailed crash reporting. The advocates also point to early incidents in cities like Austin and San Francisco, where robotaxis have blocked emergency vehicles or caused serious pedestrian injuries.
How do some Americans feel about autonomous vehicles?
A February 2025 AAA survey shows Americans remain cautious about self-driving cars. Only 13% of U.S. drivers said they would trust riding in an autonomous vehicle, up slightly from 9% in 2024. Still, about 6-in-10 drivers report feeling uneasy about getting in a self-driving car.
The survey also showed most favor improving traditional vehicle safety features over the development of fully autonomous vehicles, with interest dropping from 18% in 2022 to 13% this year.
