Tesla won’t have to report as many Level 2 crashes after Trump’s rule change
The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
“The less restrictive reporting requirements mean some crashes that don’t involve fatalities or serious injuries will no longer be collected by NHTSA as part of the SGO,” Michael Brooks, Executive Director at the Center for Auto Safety, said in a statement. “While these crashes may be of a lower severity, they could be very important in early identification of safety performance concerns with Level 2+ ADAS features.”
By Andrew J. Hawkins
April 29, 2025
Last week, the US Department of Transportation announced a major change to the Biden-era rule that requires automakers and tech companies to report crashes that involve fully or partially autonomous vehicles. Under the revised rules, companies will no longer have to report certain crashes, such as those involving a vehicle equipped with a Level 2 advanced driver assist system (ADAS) that resulted in a tow-away, but no injuries, fatalities, or airbag deployments. The change was meant to, in Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s words, “slash red tape and move us closer to a single national standard that spurs innovation and prioritizes safety.”
One company that stands to benefit from the rule change is Tesla. Under the previous regime, Elon Musk’s company comprised the bulk of crashes reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) involving vehicles with Level 2 automated systems. But under the revised rule, Tesla’s load will be significantly lighter.