Blumenthal & Markey Statement on NHTSA'S New Reporting Requirements for Automated Vehicle Crashes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Standing General Order outlining crash reporting requirements for manufacturers and operators of vehicles with certain driver assistance and automated driving systems:

“We are encouraged by this step in the right direction from NHTSA. Timely data will enable the agency to have better information about crashes involving automated driving and advanced driver assistance systems, and more swiftly identify safety issues and potentially dangerous patterns. Still, NHTSA must take stronger proactive actions to prevent these crashes from happening in the first place. We will continue pushing the agency to do just that to help ensure the safety of new vehicle technologies for drivers and the public.”

In April, Blumenthal and Markey called on NHTSA to conduct a thorough probe into a deadly Texas Tesla crash, and to develop recommendations for how automated driving and driving assistance systems like Tesla’s Autopilot can be improved. The full text of the letter can be found here.

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