Trump’s auto safety pick promises rapid self-driving deployment

Michael Brooks, executive director of the Washington-based Center for Auto Safety, which advocates for stringent regulations, noted that during Morrison’s earlier tenure at NHTSA, the agency rolled back safety standards and halted probes of carmakers utilizing autonomous vehicle technology that were initiated by the Obama administration.

“We think it is reasonable to expect more of the same” if Morrison is confirmed as NHTSA administrator, Brooks said…

By Keith Laing, Bloomberg
July 17, 2025

President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the nation’s top car safety regulator pledged to prioritize safety while at the same time making it easier for automakers to deploy-self driving cars.

Jonathan Morrison, who was nominated by Trump on February 11 to be administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told lawmakers in a hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee Wednesday that the agency he hopes to soon lead should craft self-driving rules that go beyond the current voluntary guidelines that were enacted under previous administrations.

Current rules limit automakers to 2,500 test vehicles that don’t meet federal motor vehicle safety standards, like having steering wheels and brake pedals. Prior Congressional proposals would have allowed carmakers to request as many 100,000 of these exemptions.

Morrison said during the hearing that NHTSA “cannot sit back and wait for problems to arrive with such developing technologies.” Instead, he said, the agency “must demonstrate strong leadership” by taking proactive steps to put federal rules in place that would allow for the rapid deployment of autonomous vehicles.

Click here to view the full story from Bloomberg, via East Bay Times.