U.S. Proposes Eliminating Brake Pedal Requirement for Self-Driving Cars

The U.S. Department of Transportation plans to amend the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to allow vehicles designed exclusively for full self-driving operation to forgo mandatory human-operated brake pedals, thereby lowering regulatory barriers for autonomous ride-hailing services. Under the proposal, vehicles that can still be driven by humans would continue to require brake pedals and other traditional controls. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that this move aims to modernize vehicle safety standards and facilitate road approval for purpose-built autonomous models like Tesla’s Cybercab. Current regulations require all vehicles to retain certain manual controls, creating a significant barrier for specialized driverless vehicles that lack steering wheels or pedals. General Motors halted its Origin autonomous vehicle project in 2024 due to similar restrictions. This regulatory adjustment is seen as one step toward removing “unnecessary obstacles” to autonomous vehicle deployment, with potential further revisions to related standards in the future. NHTSA emphasized that eliminating the brake pedal requirement does not equate to lowering braking safety standards; vehicles must still meet stringent performance requirements, such as braking distance. There are currently no concrete plans to relax requirements for other components like steering wheels. Despite the gradually easing regulatory environment, the maturity of autonomous technology, deployment costs, and public acceptance remain key factors influencing market expansion.