Trump Admin Wants to Make Brake Pedals Optional in Autonomous Vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed removing manual brake pedals from autonomous vehicles.

NHTSA suggested updating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to eliminate the current requirement for manual brake controls in fully self-driving cars. This change would allow manufacturers to meet stopping distance standards through alternative testing methods, potentially accelerating autonomous vehicle innovation.

Currently, rules require manual brake pedals in all vehicles, with limited exemptions permitting up to 2,500 pedal-less autonomous cars per year. Tesla’s Cybercab, a fully autonomous vehicle without pedals or steering wheels, recently entered production but has not applied for an exemption under these regulations. NHTSA administrator Jonathan Morrison emphasized the need to “reimagine our regulatory framework” to enable American leadership in this sector. The public has 30 days from the proposal announcement to submit comments before the Department of Transportation decides on approval.

For Montana businesses, this regulatory shift could eventually influence transportation and logistics sectors by enabling new autonomous vehicle models without traditional controls. Given Montana’s vast rural areas, the adoption of such vehicles might hinge on safety validation and regulatory clarity, as well as infrastructure adaptations supporting autonomous operation across long distances.

Trump Admin Wants to Make Brake Pedals Optional in Autonomous Vehicles
By Ece Yildirim, Gizmodo