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.
AV’s: An Attractive Nuisance
Tesla protests, criticism of Tesla’s autopilot and Full Self Driving and Cybertrucks that are coming apart. Waymo is racking up the parking tickets and still doesn’t have a viable business model.GM puts another 9,000 pound socoiopath on the road and cannabis doesn’t not make you a good driver. That and more in this weeks episode.…
Life in the fast lane… it’s not great.
Ever race down a city street or do donuts on a salt flat? Me neither but car commercials make it look like we should be doing this. Consumers are not liking some new car tech, like electronic door handles, but like built-in vacuums (this is a thing?). These topics and more. This weeks links: https://powertripfilm.com/…
Tarrifs, Chinese AV regulations and road safety
How will tariffs affect auto industry safety? Less new car sales equals less newer safety tech on the road. China is enforcing tighter controls on over-the-air (OTA) updates compared to the U.S.’s ‘wild west’ approach. Plus a flying car, a cybertruck that wants to die and recalls from Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. This weeks links: https://www.npr.org/2025/03/03/nx-s1-5316162/trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-cars-auto-industry…
What’s the difference between Waymo and the Titanic?
This week we discuss recent layoffs at NHTSA, Fred compares Waymo to the Titanic, Renault releases a fire fighting tool for EV’s and recalls. Support the show. This weeks links: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/us-auto-safety-agency-that-s-probing-tesla-cuts-4-of-staff/ar-AA1zGAUi https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/cars/2025/02/20/stellantis-self-driving-autodrive-watch-movies/79334466007/ https://media.renaultgroup.com/fireman-access-an-exclusive-innovation-by-renault-group-is-now-available-with-a-free-licence/ https://www.jalopnik.com/1798210/mercedes-starts-testing-solid-state-batteries-with-huge-range-gains/ https://www.ttnews.com/articles/autonomous-trucking-driverless https://www.printwand.com/blog/how-unsinkable-marketing-campaign-led-titanic-disaster https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-dc-region-is-twice-as-deadly-for-pedestrians-as-a-decade-ago/ar-AA1zBFXk https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V098-4966.PDF https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V085-6011.PDF https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V092-6812.PDF https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V093-8408.PDF https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V099-7174.PDF https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V106-5920.PDF
Driving on Thin Ice: Musketeers vs. Safety Advocates
Jonathan Morrison won the job as new the NHTSA administrator. I hope he cares about safety or dangers… like those posed by oversized vehicles. Jeep is now displaying pop-up ads in your car. Fun. And we have recalls. This weeks links: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/12/trump-picks-apple-exec-to-lead-transportation-safety-agency/?guccounter=1 https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/supersizing-vehicles-offers-minimal-safety-benefits–but-substantial-dangers https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/automakers-make-big-strides-in-front-crash-prevention https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/02/hands-free-driving-interstate/ https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/22/waymo-parents-kids-in-robotaxis/ https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/report-cybertruck-safety-ford-pinto/ https://techstory.in/stellantis-introduces-pop-up-ads-in-vehicles-sparking-outrage-among-owners/ https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V060-8914.PDF https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V059-6496.PDF https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V058-2469.PDF
Start your own robo-taxi company with Phil Koopman
We continue our discuss with Phil Koopman from Carnegie Mellon University. What is safety? How easy is it start your own robo-taxi company? Why Waymo’s safety claims are short about a billion miles of data and more. Like guests like Phil? Donate so we can continue getting more great guests. This weeks links: https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/statistically-safer-autonomous-vehicles https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/unregulated-cybercabs-in-five-easy…
Phil Koopman, Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Tesla’s hidden door handles
Phil Koopman, Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Tesla’ | RSS.com Phil Koopman comes back to the show for a 2 part episode. During this first one we discuss the dangers of Tesla’s electronic door latches, the lack of federal regulations covering these safety gaps, and the broader implications for emerging vehicle technologies. Then SAE and those…
AEB works today, traffic cameras and a collander for your car?
Hi folks, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and its impending regulations is our first topic. AEB works but the industry shill fights against it. Subaru gets hacked (and they are tracking you), traffic cameras in NYC reveal some marital issues, Vietnam and Norway have excessive (?) but interesting (?) fines for traffic violations and recalls. Donate…
Automakers resist safety, Tesla resists common sense
Automakers are still complaining that Automatic Emergency Braking is too impossible… even though some vehicles are already able to meet the 2029 standard. The law and law enforcement is struggling with marijuana impaired driving. And Tesla makes it next to impossible to escape from one of their vehicles if they are on fire. Plus recalls.…