Yesterday, the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade convened a hearing titled “Looking Under the Hood: The State of NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety.” The hearing brought together leading experts to discuss critical issues shaping the future of motor vehicle safety and the role of federal oversight. 

Witness List: 

1. Jeff Farrah, CEO, Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association  

1. John Bozzella, President and CEO, Alliance for Automotive Innovation  

1. David Harkey, President, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute  

1. Catherine Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Minority) 

Key Themes and Witness Discussions: 

1. Advancing Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and Regulatory Frameworks: The hearing underscored the transformative potential of AVs, particularly in rural connectivity, freight logistics, and for those with limited mobility. Bozzella and Farrah both noted the challenges of tracking and marking for AVs in rural areas. Farrah clarified that “Level 4” AVs (using the Society of Automotive Engineers’ level labeling system) are generally confined to specific operational design domains, with testing expanding footprint only after careful, case-by-case evaluation. Bozzella emphasized the benefits of Level 3 highly automated vehicles for rural users but acknowledged existing gaps and the need for a national framework. Witnesses agreed that a robust national framework, including precisely defined Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), is essential to guide the deployment of AVs. The current patchwork of state-level policies (with 26 states having some form of policy) was identified as a challenge, emphasizing the need for federal leadership to ensure consistency and avoid disparate regulations that could hinder innovation and deployment.
2. Enhancing Road Safety: Addressing Critical Challenges: Road safety emerged as a prominent concern, with discussions spanning several important areas:

• Distracted Driving:  Harkey’s testimony on the 3,000-4,000 annual fatalities due to distracted driving underscored the urgency of addressing this issue. Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) raised concerns about mobile and tech-enabled distracted driving. 

• Impaired Driving and Technology:  Cathy Chase lamented NHTSA’s perceived lack of support for detection technologies, stating that passive systems to detect alcohol and prevent ignition could save 10,000 lives annually. In response to Rep. Schakowsky, Chase advocated for the rulemaking authorized under IIJA but not implemented by USDOT that address the issues of impaired driving and children left in cars. 

• ADAS, Consumer Awareness, and Consumer Choice: Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) questioned whether drivers understand ADAS systems and their calibration. Bozzella confirmed that ADAS are not fully autonomous but acknowledged the need for durability and testing and expressed willingness to collaborate on driver education. He noted that OEMs do share important information. Farrah stressed the need to modernize rules for vehicles operating without direct human control. 

• Vulnerable Road Users: Rep. Cathy Castor (D-FL) highlighted the dangerous environment for pedestrians and cyclists, citing statistics of daily crashes involving them, particularly in urban areas like NYC and her constituency, Tampa in Florida. Chase underscored the absolute necessity of Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems. Harkey presented new testing data showing AEB can lead to a 50% reduction in front-to-front collisions and a 27% reduction at lower speeds. 

• Speeding: Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) questioned Congress on actions to address speeding across demographics and geographies. Chase advocated for Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems, which could warn drivers or even slow vehicles down. Harkey emphasized that speeding is a pervasive problem, affecting vulnerable users in urban environments, and while progress is slow, it is crucial to address, noting that younger males are a statistically dominant demographic in speeding. Bozzella expressed optimism that ADAS systems are becoming more widely available across all vehicle price points. 

3. NHTSA Oversight and Data Collection: Concerns were raised regarding NHTSA’s staffing levels and its effectiveness. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) questioned the alleged 35% staff reduction at NHTSA and whether the 5-star safety system is adequately updated for consumer comparison. Chase stated that every panelist wants more work from NHTSA but there may not be enough people to do this work, suggesting the U.S. has fallen behind in vehicle safety leadership. She characterized the current situation as “Starflation,” where almost every vehicle achieves a high rating, making it difficult for consumers to differentiate.

The importance of robust data collection for safety oversight was a prominent theme. Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA) expressed concern that “we are flying blind when it comes to safety,” calling for stronger oversight and data reporting. He asked Farrah about data collection and validation, collision data, and the need for transparency. Farrah indicated that the industry provides information to NHTSA under a Standing Joe order and stressed the need for NHTSA to institute a safety data repository. He argued that ample data exists, more than for any other technology, and that duplication should be avoided. 

4. Data Privacy and International Competition: Discussions also delved into data collection in cars and privacy. Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) raised concerns about inconsistent data sharing without guardrails, citing instances like the Minnesota shooting targeted at state legislators in MN and how the attacker accessed data to locate them. She asked Bozzella about car companies’ handling of data and the need for privacy laws, and Farrah about cybersecurity plans for AVs or “supercomputers on wheels.” Bozzella emphasized that data is helpful but called for transparency, consent, and a federal privacy law for data minimization. Farrah stated that he did not want to single out AVs and was happy to be part of the broader data discussion.

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI and lifelong auto industry royalty) raised concerns about China’s data collection and the need for action. She also highlighted the issue of crash test dummies not reflecting women, asking Bozzella about OEMs developing modern dummies. Bozzella affirmed that every driver and passenger is entitled to the same safety standards and that the industry is working on advanced dummies. He stressed the need for aligned standards across different regulatory bodies. 

Looking Ahead: The hearing highlighted the complex interplay between technological advancement, regulatory frameworks, and public safety. Witnesses agreed on the need for clearer federal guidance, particularly for AVs, and enhanced resources for NHTSA. Continued dialogue and legislative action are anticipated to address these challenges, ensuring the U.S. maintains a leading role in transportation safety and innovation while addressing evolving concerns like data privacy and international competition.