A leading consumer advocate in the US is pushing to close the information gap on how ADAS systems are involved in collisions.
While the US currently has laws requiring OEMs and autonomous vehicle companies to report serious crashes in vehicles equipped with driving automation technologies and ADAS systems from level , the group argues these can be underreported.
The change in the White House is also set to bring potential disruption to the program that has set a precedent since 2021.
While Australia has scheduled AV laws for 2026, it will be looking with interest to the US scene where automated driving is much more advanced and numerous crashes have underscored wavering public trust.
Britain will make the makers rather than the owners of self-driving cars, arguing it would protect users and promote safety
Consumer Reports wants the current program to be continued by the incoming administration and strengthened , to help track safety trends, identify risks, and develop sensible rules to protect the public
This current program overseen by the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) collects data about crashes in cars with active driving assistance that combine lane centring and speed control—or automated driving systems to develop performance standards for the technology.
Uncertain times
Reuters has reported that the program might be uncertain under incoming president Donald Trump but leaders in automated car companies are looking for a boost to enhance the safety of the sector.
“Without robust crash reporting requirements, we’d lose an important tool for understanding and improving the safety of new driving technologies,” said Cooper Lohr, senior policy analyst for transportation and safety at Consumer Reports
“As the Senate considers the nomination of a new Transportation Secretary, now is the time to ensure we’re asking the right questions about how we want emerging driving technologies like AVs to be regulated.
Vital piece of the puzzle
The reporting requirement is a key piece of that puzzle, providing oversight and consumer transparency for technologies that are still so new and whose impacts we’re only beginning to understand.
“Rather than doing away with this program, the Department of Transportation should focus on strengthening, streamlining, and improving it to ensure it works better for everyone.”
“Specifically, crashes must be reported that happen during or after these systems are used and that involve a hospital-treated injury, a fatality, a vehicle tow-away, an airbag deployment, or a vulnerable road user such as a pedestrian or bicyclist.”
“This information can provide crucial insights into how these emerging technologies perform in real-world conditions and help identify safety risks before they lead to widespread harm. However, many companies deploying driving automation technologies have drastically underreported crashes, leaving regulators and the public with an incomplete understanding of safety performance on the roads. CR thinks addressing the issues that lead to underreporting and increasing company participation should be the priority—not removing the program entirely.”