US proposes to drop brake pedal requirements for self-driving vehicles

The U.S. The proposal would maintain existing stopping distance standards for these vehicles. This means autonomous vehicles must still be capable of stopping within prescribed distances. The change would apply only to vehicles that can operate without a human driver. If finalized, this proposal would exempt fully autonomous vehicles from that requirement.

NHTSA's analysis found that self-driving systems can reliably perform emergency braking maneuvers without human pedal input. The agency therefore determined that the brake pedal requirement is unnecessary for vehicles without a driver. Removing the pedal could allow manufacturers to design interiors more flexibly and potentially reduce costs. The proposal keeps the requirement that vehicles meet stopping distance performance standards. This ensures that autonomous vehicles can still stop safely in an emergency. The rule would not apply to conventional vehicles with human drivers.

The proposal was announced in a notice of proposed rulemaking. The agency will open the proposal for public comment before finalizing it. The change could accelerate the deployment of driverless vehicles. The rule does not affect traditional cars, which will continue to require brake pedals. NHTSA has not set a specific timeline for the final rule.