Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching three new rulemakings to modernize the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS).
According to Secretary Duffy, these changes are designed to “eliminate redundant requirements and bring us closer to a single national standard that spurs innovation and prioritizes safety.” NHTSA officials echoed this sentiment, stating that the current standards were written for human-driven vehicles and “need to be updated for autonomous vehicles.”
The three specific standards under review include:
- Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect
- Windshield defrosting, defogging, wiping, and washing systems
- Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment
While the MRF supports modernization where appropriate, we remain concerned about the rapid push to greenlight fully driverless vehicles, particularly when motorcycles and other road users are often excluded from the conversation. NHTSA’s Automated Vehicle Framework prioritizes “unleashing innovation” and “enabling commercial deployment,” but riders know all too well that safety must come first, not as an afterthought.
The push for automated driving systems comes as the auto industry itself is wrestling with challenges in both electric and autonomous vehicle markets. Tesla is now pivoting away from its original EV mission and placing its bets on AI-driven ventures like robotaxis.
Tesla and other companies have yet to prove that autonomous vehicles can operate safely and consistently in the real world, especially when it comes to detecting and responding to motorcycles.
The MRF has long warned that autonomous vehicle developers must demonstrate that their systems can safely interact with motorcyclists before deployment. A vehicle that fails to “see” a rider is not a safety innovation, it’s a deadly hazard.
As the rulemaking process moves forward, the MRF will remain engaged to ensure that riders are heard in Washington. The future of transportation should not come at the expense of motorcyclist safety.
We urge our members to stay alert, stay informed, and be ready to speak out. Innovation is welcome, but only when it comes with accountability.
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