NHTSA News

Safety Board Recommends Blood Alcohol Technology in All New Cars

The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that all new vehicles in the U.S. be required to have blood alcohol monitoring systems that can stop an intoxicated person from driving. The recommendation, if enacted by the National Highway Traffic Safety …

Traffic Deaths Hit 16-Year High in First Six Months of 2022

U.S. traffic deaths rose 0.5% in the first half of 2022 to 20,175, the highest number killed in the period since 2006, according to an early estimate released by U.S. regulators. Traffic deaths have jumped after pandemic lockdowns ended as …

Newer Cars Closing Gender Disparity Gap in Crash Fatalities

Disparities in fatality rates between men and women fell significantly starting with model year 2000 vehicles, according to findings outlined in a report released last month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The report, “Female Crash Fatality Risk Relative …

GM’s Robotaxi Service to Expand into Phoenix, Austin

General Motors’ self-driving car company on Monday announced plans to expand a robotaxi service that recently launched in California into new markets in Arizona and Texas before the end of this year. Cruise, a San Francisco startup that General Motors …

Safety Chief Objects to Use of Driver Error Statistic She Says Is Misleading

With traffic fatalities spiking higher, the nation’s top safety investigator says a widely cited government statistic that 94% of serious crashes are solely due to driver error is misleading and that the Transportation Department should stop using it. Jennifer Homendy, …

Safety Agency Recommends 50,000 Chevy Bolt Owners Park Outside to Prevent Fires

U.S. auto safety regulators on Wednesday urged about 50,000 owners of General Motors electric Chevrolet Bolt vehicles that were recalled last year to park outside and away from homes and other structures after charging because of fire risks. Earlier on …

States Urge Federal Standards for Child Car Seat Side-Impact

The attorneys general of 17 states and the District of Columbia on Tuesday urged the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to adopt long-delayed side-impact standards for child car seats. Congress first asked the agency to set the standards …

U.S. Makes Little Progress on 4-Year Long Air Bag Inflator Probe

Nearly four years ago, the U.S. government’s highway safety agency began investigating air bag inflators made by ARC Automotive of Tennessee when two people were hit by flying shrapnel after crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that 8 …

Study Questions Safety Claims About Tesla Autopilot’s Steering Feature

An analysis of government data disputes a finding by safety regulators and promoted by Tesla Inc. that crash rates of its older vehicles declined after they were equipped with an automatic steering capability. The study, released Friday by Quality Control …

Steering Failure Risk Prompts Fiat Chrysler Recall of More Than 660,000 Trucks

Fiat Chrysler is recalling over 660,000 heavy-duty trucks worldwide because a loose nut can cause a loss of steering control. The recall covers Ram 3500 pickups from 2013 through 2017, as well as 2500 pickups and 3500 Chassis cabs from …