The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a Standing General Order that requires manufacturers and those operating vehicles with SAE Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to report crashes. The order also applies to vehicles equipped with SAE Levels 3 through 5 automated driving systems (ADS).
The new NHTSA order stipulates a number of requirements for crashes involving an ADS-equipped vehicle. For example, companies must report a crash within one day of learning of the incident when it involves a hospital-treated injury, fatality, vehicle tow-away, air bag deployment, or a “vulnerable road user,” such as a bicyclist or pedestrian. An updated report is required 10 days after learning about the crash. Companies are also required to issue a monthly report regarding all other crashes involving ADS-equipped vehicles which resulted in injury or property damage. Furthermore, report updates are required monthly when new or additional information becomes available.
“NHTSA’s core mission is safety. By mandating crash reporting, the agency will have access to critical data that will help quickly identify safety issues that could emerge in these automated systems,” said NHTSA’s Acting Administrator, Dr. Steven Cliff. “In fact, gathering data will help instill public confidence that the federal government is closely overseeing the safety of automated vehicles.”
As ADAS systems gather traction and become more commonplace, the NHTSA’s new order is expected to help identify potential safety issues and the impact of the systems’ proliferation on public roads.
To note, Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) includes things like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. Meanwhile, automated driving systems (ADS), such as those equipped by Cruise Origin, are not currently sold in mainstream vehicles, but are currently in use for things like system testing, ride sharing, and deliveries.
General Motors’ Super Cruise system is considered an SAE Level 2 advanced driver assistance system, and can take control of the steering and throttle during extended highway driving. The driver may remove their hands from the steering wheel while the system is engaged, but must remain attentive and ready to resume control if needed. The GM Super Cruise system is expected to be offered on 22 GM vehicles by 2023.
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Comments
Is this retroactive? (Will we get to see statistics for all vehicles already on the road?) If not, will the requirement be for all existing cars going forward or only vehicles sold after the requirement was put in place? Also, how would the manufacturer necessarily know if the vehicle was damaged in such a way that the car could no longer “phone home” or the accident occurred in a place with no cell phone service?
I would want to know what data is being reported. My opinion is that data MY vehicle creates or monitors is MY data to report, share or destroy, not the manufacturers. So the next question is how is GM collecting the data from its customers. Are they going to take it without their consent? Suddenly all those people pulling Onstar fuses aren’t so crazy.
If you have a car with OnStar you are already reporting at all times, with or without a subscription.
If you get into a crash: the police will get a search warrant for criminal charges, your insurance will demand you hand data over or they won’t cover you, other parties insurance will subpoena data for a lawsuit, the automaker will do the same, NTSB can seize evidence by law for safety recommendations, and NHTSA can do the same to see if there’s a vehicle defect.
It’s a principle of US law that you can’t hide or destroy evidence. If you don’t like it, move to other countries like Japan where civil discovery isn’t a thing.
I think it runs a foul of self incrimination.
Total and utter nonsense. The principle is you must go through a court and have a judge order the data be produced. A far cry from taking it with no due process. People willing to give up their rights to their IP without a fight is simply pathetic.
Gee I wish the FDA would start regulation of food products that are raised here and shipped to China then sent back here for our consumption. Safety is Safety weather its automobiles, food or other products on the market. How long will it take us to realize the food chain is poison from China?