US President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is considering scrapping a car-crash reporting requirement that Tesla CEO Elon Musk strongly opposes. The requirement, which collects data on crashes involving advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), is crucial for improving road safety.
Musk has opposed the removal of the requirement, citing concerns it could hinder government investigations into crashes and compromise vehicle safety. If implemented, it would likely benefit Musk’s Tesla, which has reported over 1,500 crashes under the program.
Tesla has been involved in three major National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigations since 2020, with its vehicles accounting for 40 out of 45 fatal crashes reported to the agency through October.
The NHTSA says the data collected from the requirement provides valuable insights into crashes and helps improve safety. Employees within the agency argue that losing access to this information would compromise their ability to detect crash patterns.
Musk has also expressed support for federal regulations on self-driving cars, despite his opposition to the specific reporting requirement. He advocates for a nationwide approval process for autonomous vehicles, citing concerns about state laws on ADAS.
The proposed change has sparked criticism from both Musk and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an industry group that represents major automakers. There is no evidence of direct influence by Musk or any other group in shaping the proposal.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-scrap-car-crash-regulation-musk-b2664278.html