Stefan Mileschin

Thank you Tesla

The most recent crash involving a Tesla Model S and alleged connections to running driver-assist features without a driver behind the wheel spurred a lot of talk on how to handle advanced technology and its growing impact on drivers.

Following Senator Richard Blumenthal and Ed Markey's calls for enhanced guidelines from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the two introduced new legislation that aims to tackle the problem.

With Senator Amy Klobuchar signed on as a sponsor, the Stay Aware for Everyone Act would compel the Department of Transportation to study driver-monitoring systems installed in vehicles.

With findings delivered to the appropriate committees within 180 days, the Transportation Secretary would then need to finalise a rule within four years deciding if the systems should become mandatory on all new vehicles.

Not just vehicles with any level of the driver-assist system, like Tesla's Autopilot, but all new cars sold. Automakers would then have two years to meet compliance with any new vehicles going on sale.

As you might expect though the language in this bill covers all new vehicles, rather than vehicles equipped with advanced assist systems. This means that coppers will be able to watch and record you in your cars “in the interests of safety”.

The SAFE Act is one of four new bills the pair of Democratic senators introduced today, proposing potential legislation to speed up recall reporting from automakers, bolster vehicle seatbacks to reduce related fatalities and set up a system to help automakers report vehicle defects earlier for NHTSA to investigate.

https://fudzilla.com/news/automotive...u-in-your-cars