According to reports, Tesla accounted for a significant portion of the 45 fatal crashes reported to the relevant agency. Incidents in Virginia and California involving Autopilot have drawn attention. Credit for this information goes to Milos Ruzicka/Shutterstock. ( 1)

The Trump Transition Team's Stance

The Trump transition team has recommended that the incoming administration abolish the car-crash reporting requirement that Tesla has opposed. This recommendation, if implemented, could potentially impact the government's ability to monitor and regulate the safety of automated-driving systems. ( 2)

Tesla's Data and Its Impact

Tesla has reported over 1,500 crashes to federal safety regulators under the current programme. This data has been crucial in several National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigations, including three that were initiated based on the reported information. The proposed removal of the crash-disclosure rule would be beneficial for Tesla. ( 3)

The Transition Team's Perspective

The transition team, responsible for formulating a 100-day strategy for automotive policy, has labeled the rule as an "excessive" mandate for data collection. Their recommendations are yet to receive a response from Tesla, Elon Musk, or the Trump team. ( 4)

Importance of Crash-Reporting Requirements

Former NHTSA employees have emphasized the significance of crash-reporting requirements. These requirements have been pivotal in investigations leading to recalls in 2023. NHTSA has also highlighted the value of this data in evaluating the safety of automated-driving technologies. ( 5)

NHTSA's Data Collection and Its Effects

Since the rule's establishment in 2021, NHTSA has collected data on over 2,700 crashes. This data has influenced ten investigations across six companies and resulted in nine safety recalls from four companies. For example, GM's self-driving startup Cruise was fined .5m for failing to report a crash involving a pedestrian. ( 6)

Recommendations and Musk's Views

The recommendations not only call for the scrapping of the reporting rule but also advocate for "liberalising" autonomous-vehicle regulation and enacting "basic regulations" to promote industry development. Musk, during a Tesla earnings call, expressed his desire for a federal approval process for autonomous vehicles and plans to promote it through his advisory role in the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. ( 7)