Traffic Authorities Promise to Introduce 'Innovation' by Removing Brake Pedals from Robotaxis

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      Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an initiative aimed at “safely unleashing American innovation” by proposing, among other things, the removal of brake pedals from autonomous vehicles identified as not needing them.

      The agency intends to modify Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, which addresses “Light vehicle brake systems.” This standard was first introduced in 1995, and since then, passenger vehicles have evolved significantly. The proposed change would not alter any stopping distance requirements stipulated in No. 135, but it would eliminate the requirement for a pedal in vehicles governed by autonomous-driving systems, with braking systems assessed through an "alternative" method.

      At this preliminary stage in the development of robotaxis, different companies are at various levels of progress and have different approaches. For instance, Waymo operates without human safety monitors, whereas Tesla still incorporates them, albeit in a limited capacity. This may change soon, as Tesla tests Cybercabs without human input in Austin—making regulatory changes like this align with its future plans.

      If companies decide that having a monitor in the vehicle is unnecessary, then the elimination of brake pedals might not be of significant concern. The potential issue, however, lies in the NHTSA removing what it perceives as “pointless” barriers without proactively addressing forthcoming challenges.

      For instance, a footnote on Page 9 indicates that "NHTSA is taking no position at this time as to how a passenger should be able to direct an ADS-operated vehicle to stop, or how the ADS should respond to such direction. NHTSA will continue to consider this issue as it addresses ADS performance." If the regulation is eliminating brake pedals, it would seem like an opportune moment to establish a failsafe or kill-switch protocol for passengers in rogue autonomous vehicles. It appears regulators prefer to address these concerns later, to put it as mildly as possible.

      There are some promising ideas included. One proposal that supports the NHTSA’s assertion of modernizing without compromising vehicle safety is its stance on “telltales,” like a brake indicator visible to passengers. “Some stakeholders have indicated that telltales are only relevant to the driver, with the information needing to be communicated solely to the ADS for vehicles not operated by a human driver. NHTSA tentatively disagrees with this perspective," the framework states.

      The proposal also mentions other less critical modernizations, such as the lack of necessity for windshield wiper controls in autonomous vehicles. Ultimately, these adjustments facilitate the entry of aspiring robotaxi companies into the market, which is beneficial for those involved in the robotaxi industry. However, for those of us not in that sector, the advantages remain less obvious.

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