Press release, 13 December 2025
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released the final volume of a major multi-year research project aimed at modernizing U.S. vehicle safety standards to better accommodate automated driving systems (ADS) — a critical step as self-driving technologies advance rapidly. The announcement, made on December 11, 2025, marks the culmination of extensive analysis of existing rules and highlights how decades-old safety requirements, originally written for human-driven cars, may be adapted to ensure both innovation and safety as the automotive industry shifts toward autonomous vehicles.
For more than eight years, NHTSA examined 81 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to identify which elements are compatible with emerging vehicle designs and which ones need reconsideration. Much of this foundational work focused on evaluating how traditional standards — such as those covering braking systems, vehicle stability, crashworthiness measures, and unconventional seating — apply to vehicles that may not have steering wheels, brake pedals, or human drivers at all. The research findings are intended to inform future rulemakings that will modernize the regulatory framework while maintaining strong safety protections.
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison emphasized that the goal is to enhance safety and support American innovation. “The future of automated vehicles is right around the corner,” Morrison said, noting that the research will help the agency understand how existing regulations might unintentionally hinder new technologies and where updated test procedures could better evaluate compliance for vehicles with ADS. As part of the announcement, NHTSA also issued a Request for Comment inviting public input from industry stakeholders and the general public on developments that may have emerged since the research began, underscoring its commitment to an inclusive regulatory process.
One key challenge NHTSA’s research addressed is the fact that many safety standards assume a human driver’s presence — an assumption that doesn’t hold for automated vehicles designed without traditional driver controls. The project looked closely at how performance requirements and test methods might be technically translated or adapted to assess vehicles that use advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, and automated control systems. Insights from this work will be instrumental in shaping the next generation of federal safety rules for ADS-equipped vehicles.
Experts see this modernization effort as pivotal for both regulators and the autonomous vehicle industry. Clear, updated safety standards can accelerate the deployment of driverless technologies by giving automakers and tech developers predictable requirements and a path to compliance. Industry groups have previously welcomed such updates, noting that removing outdated requirements — while ensuring safety — could help bring new mobility solutions to market more efficiently. This includes supporting vehicles that operate without steering wheels or pedals and promoting a single, harmonized national standard rather than a patchwork of state-level rules.
The move also comes amid broader federal actions geared toward preparing U.S. roadways for automated vehicles. Earlier initiatives have included streamlining exemption processes that allow manufacturers to test and sell limited quantities of non-compliant automated vehicles under specified conditions, and updating frameworks that aim to clarify how self-driving technologies should be regulated at the national level. Combined, these efforts reflect a more proactive stance by U.S. regulators to balance safety with innovation in the rapidly evolving world of autonomous mobility.
As automated vehicles inch closer to widespread commercialization, NHTSA’s modernization of safety standards represents a significant milestone. By rethinking how long-standing regulations apply to vehicles without human drivers and opening a dialogue with industry and the public, the agency is laying the groundwork for a regulatory environment that supports safe, innovation-friendly pathways for autonomous vehicle deployment on America’s roads.
