Driverless Car Brake Rule Lifted
US Regulators Propose Removing Brake Pedal Rule for Driverless Vehicles
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Key Points
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The proposal would remove brake-pedal requirements only for purpose-built, driverless vehicles; conventional autos would continue to require brake pedals.
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There would be a 30-day public comment period before any final rule is issued, signaling a phased but expedited approach to deregulation.
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The move could affect major robotaxi players and concepts, including Tesla, Zoox, and Waymo, with examples such as Tesla’s so-called ‘Cybercab’ cited as a potential driverless design.
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NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison framed the effort as part of reimagining the regulatory framework under the AV Framework, aiming to tear down barriers to innovation while preserving essential safety requirements.
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Even with a potential easing of brake-pedal rules, the current system still relies on an exemption process for AVs lacking FMVSS-mandated parts, and it remains unclear whether other controls (e.g., steering wheels) will be revised in tandem.
U.S. regulators have proposed scrapping the federal requirement for manual brake pedals in self-driving vehicles, a move that could open the door to mass deployment of robotaxis like Tesla's Cybercab and Amazon's Zoox. NHTSA officially filed the proposal in the Federal Register on June 25, 2026, targeting FMVSS No. 135 — the rule that has required hand- or foot-operated brakes in all light-duty vehicles for decades.
The rule would apply only to purpose-built, driverless vehicles. Any car designed to be driven by a human — even part of the time — must still keep its brake pedal. A 30-day public comment period will follow before any final rule takes effect, according to Transport Topics.
What NHTSA Is Proposing and Why Now
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison framed the change as essential to U.S. competitiveness. "We are at the cusp of the greatest technological revolution in vehicle technology since the innovation of the Model T," Morrison said, according to NHTSA. "If we want America to lead the way, we have to reimagine our regulatory framework." This is the fifth major update to federal vehicle safety standards under the current administration's Automated Vehicle Framework.
Under the old system, companies could build vehicles without manual controls only through a restrictive exemption process capped at 2,500 units per year, according to Reuters. That bottleneck froze fleet-scale robotaxi rollouts for years. The new proposal would remove that ceiling entirely for purpose-built autonomous platforms. Strict performance rules remain: vehicles must still stop within 70 meters (230 feet) from 100 km/h, and wheel lockup cannot exceed 0.1 seconds.
Tesla Cybercab and Zoox Stand to Gain Most
Tesla's Cybercab — a two-seat robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals — began mass production at Gigafactory Texas in April 2026, according to Teslarati. Tesla had deliberately skipped the exemption process, betting instead on a full rewrite of federal rules. That bet now looks prescient. The rule change would let Tesla scale Cybercab production without legal limits tied to the old hardware mandate.
Amazon's Zoox has been running its carriage-style robotaxis under a limited demonstration exemption. The new rule would let Zoox expand to full fleet scale, according to DOT. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has described the broader AV Framework as "tearing down pointless barriers" to help domestic companies compete globally.
Safety Advocates Warn of Accountability Gaps
Critics say removing physical controls before the technology is fully proven creates real risks. High-profile stumbles — like Waymo's recall of 3,900 vehicles — suggest the industry is not ready for fewer safeguards, according to BGR. Some safety advocates argue the administration is prioritizing speed to market over hard evidence of reliability.
The legal landscape could shift dramatically too. With no brake pedal, there is no physical override a human could have pressed. That means manufacturers become fully liable for any braking failure, according to Claims Journal. Trial lawyers are already raising concerns about how brake failures will be litigated in court. Steering wheel requirements are a separate issue — NHTSA has not proposed removing those yet, though experts say a similar proposal could follow by early 2027.
A 30-Day Window Before the Rules Are Rewritten
The public has 30 days to comment after the Federal Register filing before NHTSA can finalize the rule, according to San Luis Obispo Tribune. The comment window is expected to draw sharp responses from both safety groups and industry players. GM's cautionary tale looms large: the company scrapped its Origin AV petition in October 2024 after years of regulatory uncertainty with no clear path forward.
Analysts say the shift moves the burden of proof from hardware — "does the car have a pedal?" — to performance outcomes — "does the car stop in time?" according to Seeking Alpha. That is a fundamental change in how the U.S. government oversees vehicle safety. Whether it speeds up innovation or exposes riders to new dangers may take years to fully answer.
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