There Auto Be A Law
Podcast Archive
Our podcast discusses auto safety issues and technological developments, in hopes of providing consumers and enthusiasts with a better understanding of modern vehicles, safety systems, and current issues in the industry.
Hands free? Not safe for thee.
Hands-free driving and driver-assist technologies get studied, Tesla makes claims, Fred pushes Waymo to provide more data. And recalls galore. Support the show! https://news.mccombs.utexas.edu/research/driving-assistance-systems-could-backfire/ https://www.cars.com/articles/hands-free-driving-tech-isnt-as-great-as-you-might-think-518276/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/general/vehicle-safety-alerts-that-change-driver-habits-are-key-to-saving-lives/ar-AA1QdO3K https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a69382722/ohio-senator-looks-up-democratic-colleagues-vin/ https://www.autosafety.org/autonomous-vehicle-checklist/ https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/11/these-gm-vehicles-can-no-longer-download-apps-through-their-infotainment-system/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/boston-weighs-clampdown-on-driverless-taxis-in-threat-to-waymo/ar-AA1Pqpi9 https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V735-5129.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V741-6856.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V721-9987.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25E070-6420.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25E071-6571.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V744-2593.pdf
The Ultimate Gaslight: Sudden Unintended Acceleration
Phil Koopman joins us to win the Lifetime Achievement Award for Gaslight Nominee with Sudden Unintended Acceleration. From the Audi 5000 to Tesla, Phil walks us through the nonsense that it’s always the humans fault and instead explains how bad hardware and software engineering has led to many of these dangerous situations. Support the show!…
Are other drivers safe? Warning other road users about your distractions.
Anthony accidentally disconnected his airbag and counterfeit ones are coming in from China. GM is leaning more into it’s Elon tendencies and promoting things that are not ready for prime time. Fred shares more of the Computer-Driven vehicle safety checklist and we’ve got recalls. Support the show! https://www.autosafety.org/autonomous-vehicle-checklist/ https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/chinese-air-bag-parts-have-exploded-and-killed-six-people-feds-are-now-seeking-answers-ab355c02 https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/10/feds-probe-tesla-about-its-mad-max-mode/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/performance-cars/these-are-the-only-2-places-on-earth-where-there-s-no-speed-limit/ar-AA1P39gF https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/10/ai-and-hands-free-driving-are-coming-to-gms-vehicles/ https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/waking-up-to-the-risks-of-drowsy-driving-and-the-solutions-at-hand https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V695-4297.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25E068-2476.pdf…
Breaking the law… and the AV’s that get away with it.
Waymo’s ignores school bus stop signs and warnings, Tesla releases something called “Mad Max Mode” cause they are sociopaths and there is little oversight and regulation for these vehicles. IIHS explores the crash data around headlight glare and we dive into recalls. Support the show! https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/us-investigates-waymo-robotaxis-over-safety-around-school-buses/ar-AA1OP2BD https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/waymo-autonomous-vehicles-washington-dc-council-charles-allen-ddot-safety-study/65-470f58be-8c9d-4b5b-96fe-d831a9b1db50 https://jacobin.com/2025/10/self-driving-cars-morrison-nhtsa https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/headlight-complaints-abound-but-glare-related-crashes-havent-increased https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=d_apmcDJGS8 https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/10/48268811/elon-musks-tesla-risks-nhtsa-scrutiny-with-fsd-v14-1-2s-mad-max-update-that-ignores-speed-limits https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/10/16/commercial-trucker-drivers-english-proficiency-trump/ https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V676-8306.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V678-9029.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V685-7473.pdf…
Tesla Troubles and Secret The Communists Among Us
Tesla gets another investigation from NHTSA… hopefully this will lead to better regulations before it’s too late. China drafts a safety framework that is better than the US and Europe, we introduce our newest project which is helping lawmakers understand computer drivers and Toyota wins recalls. Support the show! https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/10/tesla-fsd-gets-worse-at-driving-nhtsa-opens-new-investigation/ https://www.cbtnews.com/senators-urge-safety-review-of-tesla-full-self-driving-system/ https://carnewschina.com/2025/09/24/new-safety-requirements-for-vehicle-door-handles-released-for-public-comment-in-china/ https://time.com/collections/best-inventions-2025/7318493/figure-03/ https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/autobrake-slashes-rear-end-crash-risk-associated-with-red-light-safety-cameras…
Zoox, Drunk Driving tech and those pesky door handles
Zoox is asking to be free of safety regulations, Rivian realizes that copying Tesla’s door handles is a bad idea, DC cracks down on traffic scofflaws with automated speed cameras and some weeny wants to remove the camera. Drunk driving detection should go mainstream, Waymo plays with stats and lots of recalls. Support the show!…
AV metrics and safety with Jeff Wishart
This week we dive into automated driving systems and their need for metrics we can all understand with returning guest, Dr. Jeff Wishart. Jeff recently published a couple of articles focused on the dynamic driving task, modern convenience and safety features and how to better understand these for all in the industry. Hopefully, regulators will…
Everything you wanted to know about rear view cameras
Fred’s out this week. Phil Koopman is in and he educates Anthony on the complexity of rear view cameras. It’s all about the Benjamin’s. Mainly it’s a cost thing, Plus recalls. Donate for safety! https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2025/09/22/new-nhtsa-head-looks-forward-to-unleashing-american-innovation/ https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/nhtsa-reports-sharp-drop-traffic-fatalities-first-half-2025 https://insideevs.com/news/773202/volvo-ex90-software-issues/ https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V607-6198.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V595-0339.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V615-0768.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V611-3314.pdf
Self driving trucks, Tesla’s and trains and let’s end arbitration
Texas lawmakers are starting to re-think the whole no regulations for self driving trucks thing. Tesla’s can’t see railroad crossing’s and NHTSA is investigating the electronic door handles. Plus recalls. Support the show! https://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/2025/09/14/driverless-semis-are-taking-over-texas-roads-but-regulations-struggle-to-keep-pace/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/electric-cars/tesla-doors-probed-by-us-regulator-after-trapping-occupants/ar-AA1MEnak https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/09/flush-door-handles-are-the-car-industrys-latest-safety-problem/ https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-musk/tesla-full-self-driving-fails-train-crossings-drivers-warn-railroad-rcna225558 https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/a-strange-gas-pumping-defect-is-making-100-000-corvettes-go-up-in-flames-61d86797 https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-sen-blumenthal-re-introduce-legislation-end-forced-0 https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/traffic-and-transportation-incidents/waymo-2-other-vehicles-in-deadly-crash-near-asu-tempe/ar-AA1MxNW2 https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/ev-sports-cars-sound-mercedes-porsche-ferrari-bmw-24cb5774 https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V577-7766.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V568-9748.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V585-0759.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V582-6308.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V592-2459.pdf