There Auto Be A Law

Traffic fatalities fell in the first half of 2026 even as miles traveled rose, but officials are mocked for taking credit via an initiative where only one of eight elements is actually implemented. Waymo draws heat for repeated school-bus mistakes, fuzzy “learning” recall talk, and cringey safety PR aimed at women despite real security concerns. Tesla is criticized for seeking secrecy around safety filings and for pushing headlight-rule changes that may relate to its camera-only approach. A rant argues regulation doesn’t kill innovation, citing aviation history. NHTSA dangles $1.5M to states to boost recall completion. Recalls: Honda power-steering fail-safe, Hyundai airbag non-deployment risk, and GM EVs with low-speed brake issues (plus steering hardware concerns).https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/decline-traffic-fatalities-first-half-2026https://www.engadget.com/2310872/nhtsa-investigates-if-waymo-robotaxis-are-still-running-school-bus-stop-signs/https://waymo.com/blog/2026/11/because-women/https://electrek.co/2026/11/05/tesla-cybercab-nhtsa-sworn-answers-confidential/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2026/11/06/nhtsa-offering-money-to-states-in-quest-to-improve-auto-recall-rates/92628007007/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/08/us/tesla-cybertruck-culture-war.htmlhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V721-7592.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V728-4779.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V717-3733.pdf

A Wall Street Journal report highlights Virginia installing speed limiters for extreme speeders as an alternative to license suspension, with discussion of connected mapping, limited overrides, and potential nationwide active intelligent speed assist. An IIHS study links Utah’s 0.08-to-0.05 BAC change to about a 9% drop in alcohol-related crashes over four years, even accounting for COVID-era driving. Privacy and safety skepticism follows: concerns about China-built Waymo vans, GM’s $220M settlement over selling driving/location data, and complaints about vague “Level 2+” automation. Flock camera misidentifications cause major harm, and revised federal crash-reporting rules make Waymo’s reported LA crash rate look better. Recalls include Durango taillights, Ford tailgate cables, and Honda tire sealant kits.Support Safety!https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/cars/to-tame-the-fastest-drivers-states-deploy-speed-limiting-devices-on-cars-4eafe66dhttps://www.iihs.org/news/detail/utahs-stricter-alcohol-limit-linked-to-lasting-drop-in-alcohol-related-crasheshttps://www.dallasnews.com/business/technology/article/uber-robotaxi-partner-avride-investigation-22252727.phphttps://www.azfamily.com/2026/10/29/could-china-spy-through-waymos-new-arizona-robotaxis/https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/29/gm-reaches-220m-settlement-over-selling-drivers-private-data/https://elixistechnology.com/uncategorized/accidentally-breaking-a-ship-with-divide-by-zero/https://www.jalopnik.com/2300430/flock-camera-leads-police-to-wrong-car-then-towing-company-totals-it/https://basin.la/articles/the-cars-that-hit-it.htmlhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V701-2086.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V689-5473.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V663-7659.pdf

This week we cover a proposed NHTSA rule for optional cyan exterior marker lamps to identify vehicles operating in autonomous mode and broader updates to lighting standards, while criticizing the lack of federal pre-deployment safety standards for automated driving. It reviews NHTSA’s plan to modernize tire safety via negotiated rulemaking and notes possible conflicts with California low rolling-resistance requirements. Texas robotaxi crash reports involving Tesla and Waymo are debated, emphasizing the need for context and skepticism toward PR safety claims. Additional topics include concerns about insecure freight systems, driverless trucking exemptions, China’s stricter vehicle-safety proposals, and multiple recalls affecting Toyota, Lexus, Audi, Hyundai, and Porsche.Donate for safety!https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/vehicle-lighting-updates-automated-vehicleshttps://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/move-to-modernize-tire-safety-standardshttps://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/tech-companies/tesla-reports-first-cybercab-crash-as-austin-robotaxi-wreck-totals-increase/ar-AA2fJZ3Mhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/nhtsa-s-changing-the-definition-of-a-truck-possibly-encouraging-more-overseas-production/ar-AA2fW5OLhttps://www.wired.com/story/gm-wants-your-car-to-do-your-chores/https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaFSD/comments/1xfasex/zoox_v_waymo_v_cybercab/?share_id=l6z9aoUyk14H8TmqZSjM4https://electrek.co/2026/10/27/musk-robotaxi-victory-waymo-austin-miles/https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202610/19/WS6ad577c6e4b06d4aa05637e4.htmlhttps://www.wsj.com/business/driverless-trucks-18-wheeler-aurora-35b89c45https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/10/highway-thieves-are-spoofing-gps-to-steal-millions-in-data-center-bound-cargo/More links on the site.

A DOT push to purge “woke safety” removes guidance on bike lanes, road diets, speed cameras, and pedestrian/bike info, while debate erupts over measuring deaths per capita vs per miles traveled. NHTSA’s 2027 five-star test list shrinks sharply, blamed on a tiny NCAP budget and new pedestrian tests, raising worries that big trucks/SUVs may be dodging bad scores. Memphis “stroads” show how deadly high-speed urban roads get when crossings are scarce. Tesla’s Roadster hype and “full self-driving” crashes (including a driver asleep) collide with weak driver monitoring, while Waymo’s “10x safer” claim and conflicted research get roasted. Headlight glare and delayed adaptive-beam rules surface, followed by recalls from Hyundai, Toyota, Chrysler, and Ford.Donate!https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/13/sean-duffy-transportation-deadly-roadshttps://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/model-year-2027-vehicle-testing-5-star-safety-ratingshttps://www.wsj.com/us-news/the-deadly-1-5-mile-corridor-that-shows-the-fatal-flaw-in-americas-road-design-8f424579https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/10/16/elon-musk-flying-roadster-shows-beauty-impractical-innovation/https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/what-teslas-flying-roadster-really-means-for-the-global-auto-race-0ede8702https://electrek.co/2026/10/16/tesla-fsd-crash-chp-patrol-car-driver-asleep-fairfield/https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/five-years-2-million-recalls-still-hitting-police-cars-the-fatal-flaw-inside-teslas-fsd/https://basin.la/articles/the-cars-that-hit-it.htmlhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15389588.2026.2695421More links on the site.

Crash-avoidance tests show cargo vans and heavy-duty pickups lag on automatic emergency braking—some can’t reliably detect a child dummy—highlighting gaps for vehicles over 10,000 pounds and delays in federal standards. Pedestrian deaths stay stubbornly high while a jaywalking crackdown is criticized as a historic, car-industry-driven scapegoat. Tesla draws fire for a feature that can activate steering-based collision evasion even when driver assist is off, plus marketing retreats to “assisted driving” in Europe. Waymo is mocked for shifting safety rhetoric while real-world mistakes pile up. Also: engine braking basics, fall road tips, and recalls for Mercedes brake hoses, VW ID.4 battery risk, and Ram TPMS and power-steering wiring corrosion.Donate Today!https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/cargo-vans-and-work-pickups-struggle-in-iihs-crash-avoidance-testshttps://www.autoevolution.com/news/tesla-s-automatic-collision-evasion-is-the-most-controversial-safety-feature-tesla-launched-in-years-275489.htmlhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/general/maye-musk-praises-elon-musk-s-safety-first-focus-after-tesla-owner-says-ev-saved-him-and-son-in-crash/ar-AA2e90y9https://waymo.com/blog/2026/10/sober-driving-benchmarks/https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/general/your-car-has-another-way-to-slow-down-what-is-engine-braking/ar-AA2doftphttps://phl17.com/pennsylvania-news/driving-safety-tips-as-the-leaves-begin-to-fall/https://autosafety.org/geo-fence/system-demo.htmlhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V638-9238.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V630-1770.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V623-3160.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V621-5191.pdf

A correction kicks off: the “A2Send” coalition (AV industry members plus VTTI) is framed as a red-tape-cutting push that really means fewer safety rules. Tesla is criticized for lobbying EU regulators with flimsy “safety” metrics (horn honks and blinkers). A fuel-economy rollback is blasted as a giveaway that won’t cut car prices but will raise lifetime fuel costs.We publish an open geofence-notification spec to help first responders clear streets. Waymo expands teen rides and updates terms with sweeping indemnity, arbitration traps, and teen trip recording. Data privacy worries grow, and recalls.Support the show!https://www.reuters.com/investigations/tesla-is-browbeating-eu-approve-its-full-self-driving-tech-pressure-is-working-2026-10-07/https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/president-trump-transportation-secretary-duffy-finalize-freedom-means-affordable-carshttps://www.thedriverlessdigest.com/p/the-robotaxi-curb-dilemma-park-cruisehttps://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/trump-administration-sued-over-fuel-economy-rollback-2026-10-02/https://sd15.senate.ca.gov/news/major-victory-public-safety-accountability-oversight-and-emergency-response-standardshttps://github.com/The-Center-for-Auto-Safety/Geo-Fence-Notificationhttps://support.google.com/waymo/answer/9184909https://support.google.com/waymo/answer/9197501https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/22/waymos-latest-expansion-strategy-teenagers/https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/general/european-cars-are-spying-on-their-drivers-the-same-tech-could-be-coming-to-the-us/ar-AA2c7Qb1https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/09/connected-car-data-privacy-is-still-abysmal-study-finds/more on the website.

A deep dive into why “AVs are safer than humans” headlines are shaky: safety studies often ignore changing software, remote-operator roles, empty-vehicle miles that reduce “injury crashes,” selective reporting, weak human-driver baselines (especially COVID-era data), and risk exported to other road users when vehicles stop or phantom brake. The big warning: past performance doesn’t prove safety at massive scale or in new cities with different conditions, and rare fatalities need far more miles to measure. Skepticism also targets closed-door industry “standards” shaping federal rules, plus quick hits on messy recall fixes, rear-camera failures, and an investigation into Comma.ai after crashes and fatalities.https://avsafety.substack.com/p/a-guide-to-the-limitations-of-robotaxihttps://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/nhtsa-wants-ideas-fix-recalls-120949573.htmlhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V605-9379.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V597-1248.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V598-8506.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2026/INOA-PE26007-17274.pdf

A driverless car wanders through a Denver farmers market, and authorities admit there’s no clear way to ticket an empty vehicle. Maybe a Geofence Notice Specification would help? Federal pedestrian-protection results look grim for U.S. automakers, with most qualifying models coming from Asian brands. Emergency hotlines for self-driving operators often fail, raising doubts about remote help and the need for passenger emergency controls. Concerns over reclined or rotated seating in future AVs plus recallsSupport the show!https://www.9news.com/article/news/community/transportation/waymo-drives-denver-farmers-market-no-law/73-a55cac7b-9c76-4003-896b-1dd5ad162deahttps://www.autopilotwatch.com/analysis/the-fsd-death-tollhttps://www.teslarati.com/why-automakers-keep-turning-down-elon-musks-tesla-full-self-driving-offer/https://autos.yahoo.com/safety-and-recalls/articles/nhtsa-says-102-cars-meet-182521601.htmlhttps://www.wired.com/story/meet-the-academics-trying-to-stop-you-from-having-sex-in-robotaxis/https://www.wired.com/story/how-self-driving-cars-might-change-crash-testing-forever/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TZFcyzGEiYhttps://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/ford-ceo-jim-farley-disputes-131135101.htmlhttps://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2026-09/NHTSA-260820-001_Signed.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V590-6184.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V587-5272.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V588-5849.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V599-8186.pdf

Federal crash tests still rely on a 5’9”, 170‑lb male dummy, leaving heavier, taller, older, and many female body types underrepresented while better (but pricier) sensor-rich dummies exist. Europe pushes intelligent speed assistance and even satellite enforcement, but accuracy, hacking, and real-world driving edge cases raise concerns. Waymo drew dozens of police calls and now touts a new compute chip, prompting worries about revalidating safety and cosmic-ray-induced electronic upsets without strong standards. GM gets heat for cheap backseat “kid reminder” software instead of true presence detection. Tesla takes hits for reckless FSD hype and rising crash reports. A banned counterfeit Chinese airbag inflator claims an 11th life. Recalls: Ford F‑150 fuel tank straps, Toyota C‑HR overcharge shutdown, Ford Bronco curtain-airbag burr.Donate!https://celticswire.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2026/09/10/crash-test-dummies-get-second-look-for-safety-from-michigan-labs/90886527007/https://insideevs.com/news/801020/eu-mulling-satellite-speed-limits/https://www.designnews.com/automotive-engineering/waymo-unveils-custom-5nm-asic-to-power-real-time-autonomous-driving-with-1000-tops-performancehttps://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/general/police-records-show-how-waymo-robotaxis-struggled-on-san-antonio-streets/ar-AA2c7hdGhttps://electrek.co/2026/09/11/musk-promotes-tesla-fsd-misuse-98-year-old/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/09/12/would-jesus-like-waymo-baptists-have-thoughts/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/nyregion/mamdani-street-safety-vision-zero-reimagined.htmlmore links at the site.

This week we're joined by former NASA engineer Chris Chamberlin to discuss oil changes. But first it's Tesla’s steering-wheel-free Cybercab rolls out while claiming self-certified compliance, prompting regulators to probe how it could possibly meet federal safety standards despite missing basics like pedals and mirrors. Their emergency responder guide is mocked as wildly impractical: flatbed-only towing, badge-to-camera verification, jumpstarting low-voltage power to open the hood, heavy “guillotine” doors, and battery fires needing 3,000–8,000 gallons of water. The discussion compares lax autonomous-vehicle oversight to NASA-style “test what you fly,” then detours into shuttle-era lubricant analysis and why oil-change intervals are oversold. Recalls cover Jeep coil springs and rear-camera software failures in Ram and Outlander.Support the Show. Donate!https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/investigation-tesla-cybercab-self-certificationhttps://electrek.co/2026/09/08/tesla-cybercab-hidden-virtual-joystick-manual-driving/https://www.dps.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/highwaypatrol/cav/plans/tesla_cybercab_robotaxi.pdfhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/business/tesla-cybercab-nhtsa-investigation.htmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2026/09/07/seat-belt-chimes-are-meant-save-lives-some-people-still-resent-them/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V562-9434.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V560-9456.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V549-3979.pdf