US DOT Proposes Removing Brake Pedal Rule for AVs

The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed removing the federal requirement for manual brake pedals in vehicles designed to operate exclusively through automated driving systems. The proposed rule, announced this week, would update Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to accommodate purpose-built autonomous vehicles that lack traditional human controls.

The change, if finalized, would eliminate a significant regulatory hurdle for companies like Tesla and Amazon-owned Zoox, which are developing robotaxis without steering wheels or pedals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the DOT's safety arm, stated the goal is to remove unnecessary design restrictions while maintaining critical safety performance standards, such as stopping distance requirements. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said the agency is working to tear down pointless barriers to innovative designs while strengthening fundamental safety requirements.

Currently, manufacturers of non-compliant vehicles must seek case-by-case exemptions, which can limit the number of vehicles deployed and come with operating conditions. A final rule would streamline this process for vehicles built solely...