Story perspectives

Waymo gridlock triggers NHTSA ban, looser AV standards

7/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) administrator Jonathan Morrison ordered autonomous-vehicle developers to stop interfering with first responders and submit solutions by month-end.
Waymo robotaxes lost power on July 4 in San Francisco, towed, causing a gridlock that prompted Bilal Mahmood to request an inquiry into transit-responder impacts.
The 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda proposes amendments to Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that could ease requirements for driverless-car makers Tesla and Zoox.

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Story summary

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) administrator Jonathan Morrison ordered autonomous-vehicle developers to stop interfering with first responders and submit solutions by month-end.
Waymo robotaxes lost power on July 4 in San Francisco, towed, causing a gridlock that prompted Bilal Mahmood to request an inquiry into transit-responder impacts.
The 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda proposes amendments to Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that could ease requirements for driverless-car makers Tesla and Zoox.