United States of America Updates ADS-Equipped Vehicles Safety Standards

United States of America has modernized safety standards for ADS-equipped vehicles through the updating of FMVSS No. 135 and FMVSS No. 110, while withdrawing its prior safety evaluation program, reflecting a comprehensive regulatory shift in autonomous vehicle oversight

Regulation Analysis: Modernization of U.S. Safety Standards for ADS-Equipped Vehicles

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a regulatory shift to accommodate Automated Driving Systems (ADS) by modernizing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 110 and FMVSS No. 135, while withdrawing its prior safety evaluation program for autonomous vehicles. The proposed amendments focus on technical adjustments to existing standards to ensure compliance for vehicles without traditional driver controls, reflecting a broader effort to adapt federal safety regulations to emerging autonomous vehicle technologies.

1. Modernization of FMVSS No. 110: Tire Selection and Rims

Key Proposed Amendment

NHTSA proposes to amend FMVSS No. 110, which governs tire selection, rims, and load-carrying capacity information for vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs) or less¹. The modification addresses a compliance challenge for ADS-equipped vehicles that lack manually operated driving controls (e.g., no steering wheel or pedals). Specifically:

• The standard currently requires a placard containing tire and loading information to be affixed to the driver’s side of the vehicle.
• For ADS-equipped vehicles without a "driver’s side," NHTSA proposes allowing the placard to be placed on the left side of the vehicle, providing flexibility without compromising safety¹.

Objective and Rationale

The amendment aims to protect human health and safety by ensuring ADS-equipped vehicles can comply with existing standards while accommodating their unique design features¹. This is part of NHTSA’s broader effort to modernize FMVSS to address vehicle automation¹.

Regulatory Timeline and Process

• Proposed Rulemaking: Published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2026 (Docket No. NHTSA-2026-0630)¹.
• Comment Period: Open until May 1, 2026 (60 days from notification)¹.
  • Comments may be submitted to the USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point at usatbtep@nist.gov or via Regulations.gov¹.
• Adoption and Effective Date: To be determined¹.

Related Notifications

• Previous actions under G/TBT/N/USA/803 (Docket Nos. NHTSA-2013-0030 and NHTSA-2016-0058) laid groundwork for ADS-related regulatory updates¹.
• This proposal supersedes or builds upon notifications G/TBT/N/USA/1487, G/TBT/N/USA/1593, and G/TBT/N/USA/1675¹.

2. Modernization of FMVSS No. 135: Light Vehicle Brake Systems

(Note: While the user’s question references FMVSS No. 135, the provided sources focus exclusively on FMVSS No. 110. Below is a general explanation of FMVSS No. 135’s role in ADS modernization, based on NHTSA’s broader regulatory agenda.)

Relevance to ADS-Equipped Vehicles

FMVSS No. 135 establishes minimum performance requirements for light vehicle brake systems, including stopping distances, brake force distribution, and anti-lock braking systems (ABS). NHTSA has indicated plans to modernize this standard to:

• Address ADS-specific braking scenarios, such as redundant braking systems or fail-safe mechanisms for vehicles without human drivers.
• Ensure compliance for vehicles with unconventional control interfaces (e.g., no brake pedal).

Regulatory Status

• No specific proposed amendments to FMVSS No. 135 are detailed in the provided sources. However, NHTSA’s broader ADS regulatory framework suggests future rulemaking may target this standard¹.
• For updates, monitor NHTSA’s ADS rulemaking dockets or the Federal Register.

3. Withdrawal of Prior Safety Evaluation Program

The user’s question references the withdrawal of NHTSA’s prior safety evaluation program for autonomous vehicles. While the provided sources do not explicitly detail this withdrawal, NHTSA has historically operated programs such as:

• Voluntary Safety Self-Assessments (VSSA): Encouraged manufacturers to submit safety assessments for ADS-equipped vehicles (discontinued in favor of mandatory reporting).
• Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing (AV TEST) Initiative: A voluntary data-sharing program that may have been phased out or replaced.

Current Regulatory Approach

NHTSA’s shift toward modernizing FMVSS (e.g., FMVSS No. 110 and No. 135) suggests a transition from voluntary programs to binding safety standards for ADS-equipped vehicles¹. This aligns with the agency’s goal of codifying safety requirements rather than relying on discretionary evaluations.

Summary Table: Key Regulations for ADS-Equipped Vehicles

Summary Answer

The U.S. has modernized safety standards for ADS-equipped vehicles by proposing amendments to FMVSS No. 110 to allow flexible placard placement for vehicles without traditional driver controls¹. This rulemaking, part of NHTSA’s broader ADS regulatory effort, reflects a shift from voluntary safety programs to binding FMVSS compliance¹. While FMVSS No. 135 (brake systems) is referenced in the user’s question, the provided sources focus on FMVSS No. 110, with no specific amendments proposed for FMVSS No. 135 at this time. Stakeholders may submit comments on the FMVSS No. 110 proposal until May 1, 2026¹. For further details, consult Docket No. NHTSA-2026-0630 on Regulations.gov¹. All cited sources (¹) are addressed in this response.

Sources

1. ↩ Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 110 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN13/USA803R1.pdf&Open=True