Happy New Year! We endured another year of Elon's lies, Waymo's PR team and the continuing AI nonsense. As the year is over we cover crown a winner for Gaslighter of the Year and make some predictions for 2026.

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• https://junkoyoshidaparis.substack.com/p/waymo-dodgeball-dodge-duck-dip-dive
• https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-kia-hyundai-theft-settlement-d2dc13dcee3fa65494d4df9f089dd386
• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/24/tiktok-tea-tyme-hit-pedestrian-chicago
• https://www.carscoops.com/2025/12/fords-calling-out-congress-over-affordability-hearing-and-teslas-the-reason-why/
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/now-we-know-the-fee-for-puking-in-a-tesla-robotaxi/ar-AA1ThKcj
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V885-4683.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V893-5513.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V894-5559.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOA-DP25002-34954.pdf

A power outage leaves Waymo's stranded physically and metaphorically as they, in our opinion, try to figure out who to blame. Tesla is finally told they cannot use the term "autopilot" to sell a feature that is not "autopilot". Uber doesn't seem to care if they hire criminals, New Hampshire thinks safety inspections are no longer needed and some Senators try to make autonomous vehicles stick to an operating design domain. Plus recalls.

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• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/us/waymo-san-francisco-power-earthquake.html
• https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/waymo-san-francisco-power-outage-21255470.php
• https://electrek.co/2025/12/17/ca-judge-rules-tesla-lied-about-fsd-must-fix-marketing-within-60-days/
• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/business/uber-background-checks-sexual-assault.html
• https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-and-blumenthal-introduce-new-safety-legislation-for-self-driving-cars
• https://carnewschina.com/2025/12/06/baidus-robotaxi-causes-accident-in-a-central-city-of-china-leaves-two-in-intensive-care/
• https://www.jalopnik.com/2053325/new-hampshire-rid-car-inspections/
• https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/amazons-zoox-recall-332-us-vehicles-over-software-error-nhtsa-says-2025-12-23/
• https://www.autosafety.org/autonomous-vehicle-checklist/
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V857-8946.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V859-5125.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V863-7819.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V882-4922.pdf

NHTSA works to modernize safety standards for AVs Arizona might try adding speed inhibitors to cars of speeder, and Rivian goes more Tesla with talk of full autonomy. Waymo still can't handle school buses but they are watching their passengers give birth. Fred adds to the AV regulators checklist and we've got a couple of recalls.

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• https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/modernizing-safety-standards-for-automated-vehicles
• https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/10/31/arizona-to-consider-speed-limiting-devices-to-improve-road-safety/
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/news/2025/12/13/tesla-grok-ai-serious-concerns/87070442007/
• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/san-francisco-woman-gives-birth-in-waymo
• https://abc7.com/post/los-angeles-viral-video-mom-daughter-find-stranger-trunk-waymo-macarthur-park/18286019/
• https://futurism.com/advanced-transport/waymo-school-bus
• https://apnews.com/article/f150-pickup-ford-vehicle-thefts-technology-242273a5e3aeb0203535c5cd2ee85c89
• https://www.autosafety.org/autonomous-vehicle-checklist/
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25E084-7732.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V846-0479.pdf

The auto industry still doesn't like AEB and listeners have a cynical take on why. Waymo has the best PR and enlists a doctor/investor to carry water for them. And Waymo can't understand school bus stop signs in Texas. Maybe move some of that PR money to safety engineering? Elon encourages his customer to break the law and Hyundai has a unique recall.

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• https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/president-trump-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-unveil-new-freedom-means
• https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/trump-fuel-economy-rollback-may-make-cars-cheaper-higher-gas-bills-will-absorb-2025-12-08/
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2025/12/05/trump-wants-u-s-carmakers-to-make-a-tiny-car-why-it-wont-happen/87602253007/
• https://electrek.co/2025/12/04/elon-musk-tesla-fsd-drivers-can-now-text-drive/
• https://www.autoblog.com/news/all-of-russias-porsches-were-bricked-by-a-mysterious-satellite-outage
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOT-PE25013-30888P1.pdf
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/officials-expand-probe-into-waymo-over-robotaxis-driving-around-school-buses/ar-AA1RNTBO
• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/opinion/self-driving-cars.html
• https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/12/the-amount-gm-spent-on-its-defunct-cruise-robotaxi-service-will-shock-you/
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V816-8746.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V826-4232.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V836-4853.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V833-5047.pdf

We start with the importance of proper child car seat fitting during winter coat season. Some progress is being made towards a "female" crash test dummy and Congress plays into the stereotype of being dummies by suggesting safety is too expensive. And the AI nonsense train rolls on.

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• https://www.msn.com/en-us/family-and-relationships/parenting/how-do-winter-coats-impact-your-child-s-car-seat-effectiveness/ar-AA1RtFwO
• https://www.npr.org/2025/11/21/g-s1-98694/crash-test-dummy-resembles-women
• https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/senate-committee-to-challenge-auto-safety-mandates-that-hurt-affordability-43944765?
• https://www.jalopnik.com/2032529/new-york-wants-to-ban-car-subscriptions/
• https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-AI-Useful-Progress/dp/191739148X
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V807-4146.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V808-2163.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V796-7086.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V794-5581.pdf

This is a re-run of an episode we did with Phil Koopman from last July. Still worthy of a listen. The original show notes are here:

https://www.autosafety.org/podcast/artificial-intelligence-and-auto-safety-with-phil-koopman-part-2/

Hawaii is using AI to enhance road safety while Telsa uses it to make dubious claims about the future and the lawsuits are continuing. Fred continues his long-distance romance with Waymo, California makes a lemon out it's lemon law and this week we have zero rear view camera recalls.

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• https://apnews.com/article/ai-transportation-guardrails-potholes-hawaii-san-jose-9b34a62b2994177ece224a8ed9645577
• https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/10/confusion-over-slow-down-move-over-laws-puts-roadside-responders-at-risk/
• https://app.publicnewsservice.org/story/advocates-weakened-auto-lemon-law-hurts-consumers/dadd0e79-60ef-4a97-8b1b-e0ff9b549953
• https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/new-tesla-fsd-safety-data
• https://electrek.co/2025/10/29/tesla-robotaxis-keep-crashing-despite-safety-monitors/
• https://electrek.co/2025/11/17/tesla-robotaxi-had-3-more-crashes-now-7-total/
• https://electrek.co/2025/11/17/tesla-settles-another-lawsuit-autopilot-crash-4th-losing-trial/
• https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/11/tesla-safety-driver-falls-asleep-during-passengers-robotaxi-ride/
• https://www.autosafety.org/autonomous-vehicle-checklist/
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V766-2002.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V764-4046.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V767-6304.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V785-7898.pdf

Hands-free driving and driver-assist technologies get studied, Tesla makes claims, Fred pushes Waymo to provide more data. And recalls galore.

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• 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

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.

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• https://users.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/pubs/koopman18_safecomp.pdf
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKHa7rxkvK8
• https://www.safetyresearch.net/how-ford-concealed-evidence-of-electronically-caused-ua-and-what-it-means-today/
• https://www.autoevolution.com/news/nhtsa-has-yet-to-answer-the-petition-about-tesla-s-sua-events-but-where-are-they-251095.html

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.

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• 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
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V699-7285.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V720-6717.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V704-0189.pdf
• https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/squirrel-nest-under-hood-car/