Full Breakdown
U.S. DOT Proposes Dropping Brake Pedal Requirement for Fully Autonomous Vehicles
6/27/2026, 2:53:14 AM
Rule Change and Context
NHTSA has proposed amending FMVSS No. 135 to drop the mandatory brake pedal for vehicles that are “designed to be driven exclusively by automated driving systems.” The amendment, part of a broader effort to modernize rules that have required brake pedals, steering wheels and related controls since the 1960s, would leave stopping-distance standards intact. Driverless prototypes have previously needed Part 555 exemptions limited to 2,500 units per year per maker. Public comment is open until July 27.
Market Impact and Key Players
The change, overseen by NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, targets Tesla’s Cybercab, Amazon-owned Zoox and Alphabet’s Waymo. Current rules cap production at 2,500 vehicles per year per maker. Tesla’s Texas fleet has under 100 units; Waymo runs thousands in 11 cities and aims for 20; Zoox seeks a waiver for 100-unit weekly output. Dropping the brake-pedal mandate would let purpose-built AVs self-certify, removing the cap, lowering compliance costs and speeding rollout for Tesla and Zoox, with modest benefit to Waymo’s retrofitted fleet.
Official Statements & Responses
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said the proposal “tear down ‘pointless barriers to innovative designs.’” DOT Secretary Sean Duffy said the rule “will reduce costs and enhance safety.” AVIA chief Jeff Farrah called it a step toward “American leadership in autonomous vehicles.” Tesla asked the agency to broaden the exemption.
Criticism & Opposition
AAA warned that “transparency is key, especially for passengers and emergency responders who may not know how to operate a vehicle without such controls.” AHAS president Cathy Chase argued that “the performance of AVs needs to be regulated to be demonstrably safe before safety systems, such as a brake pedal, are removed.” William Wallace, Consumer Reports, criticized reliance on “regulatory carve-outs” instead of “strong and comprehensive autonomous vehicle safety standards, as other countries are doing.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The rule keeps stopping-distance standards but does not define performance criteria for autonomous decision-making. NHTSA has not released an impact analysis of the brake-pedal removal, and it is unclear if steering-wheel rules will be revised in same cycle.
Verbatim Quotes
- “pointless barriers to innovative designs.” — Jonathan Morrison, NHTSA Administrator
- “Safety complexities remain The American Automobile Association said in its public comment to NHTSA that while it supports easing regulations for fully autonomous vehicles, transparency is key, especially for passengers and emergency responders who may not know how to operate a vehicle without such controls.” — American Automobile Association (AAA)
- “American leadership in autonomous vehicles.” — Jeff Farrah, CEO, Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association
- “the performance of AVs needs to be regulated to be demonstrably safe before safety systems, such as a brake pedal, are removed.” — Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
What’s Next
Comments close on July 27. NHTSA will review submissions before issuing a final rule, after which manufacturers could self-certify pedal-free designs. The agency signaled that performance-based safety standards for autonomous systems are expected later this year.
