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
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V668-0485.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V656-3686.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V657-9208.pdf

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.

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• https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/24/zoox-asks-federal-regulators-for-exemption-to-launch-a-commercial-robotaxi-service/
• https://www.autoblog.com/news/government-shutdown-chaos-why-americas-auto-industry-could-be-brought-to-its-knees
• https://www.carscoops.com/2025/10/rivian-becomes-latest-automaker-to-rethink-high-tech-door-handles/
• https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/legal/automated-traffic-enforcement-cameras-brian-schwalb-scott-perry-steer-act-charles-allen-dangerous-drivers-speed-camera/65-390e2258-24d2-470f-9b4f-ce26c88f1999
• https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/29/waymo-illegal-u-turn-driverless-car
• https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nycs-e-bike-speed-limit-will-take-effect-in-october/
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V636-0319.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V628-3952.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V631-2095.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V655-4885.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V649-8440.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V645-1129.pdf

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 take note and use Jeff's work as a resource in their work.

Support the show!

• http://legacy.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/epr2025013/
• http://legacy.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2025-01-8672/
• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dmitri-dolgov_safety-in-action-as-another-car-pulls-into-activity-7370922904634445824-9ouC

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

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

Reality TV personality and head of the DOT updates autonomous vehicle regulations to, um, stop our adversaries. BMW and Qualcomm team up for some word soup, Anthony wants a grappler, Tesla spouts nonsense and ARK investments laps it up plus more rear view cameras get recalled.

Donate for freedom! And because it's good for you.

• https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/av-framework-plan-modernize-safety-standards
• https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/09/polestar-unveils-electric-gt-rival-to-the-porsche-taycan/
• https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/more-localities-look-at-speed-from-a-pedestrians-point-of-view
• https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/american-driving-survey.html
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/would-you-trust-ai-to-tighten-your-seatbelt-volvo-thinks-you-should/ar-AA1M1V2u
• https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/auto-accident/is-it-illegal-to-drive-barefoot/
• https://electrek.co/2025/09/03/tesla-moves-robotaxi-safety-monitor-passenger-drivers-seat/
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/tesla-s-addictive-fsd-60-of-luxury-owners-can-t-drive-without-it/ar-AA1LQlfP
• https://www.jalopnik.com/1959117/gm-patent-gets-old-dangerous-drivers-off-the-road/
• https://boingboing.net/2025/09/04/watch-high-tech-police-tool-leaves-car-thief-stranded-without-rear-wheels.html
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V572-7322.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V576-7079.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V559-3549.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V556-1642.pdf

We dig more into Tesla "hiding" data from their owners and gently ask Tesla's software engineers to not be sociopaths and end this practice. Is your rental car safe? Is Waymo delusion for trying to move into New York City? Is Ford going to recall all the cars? That and more in this weeks episode.

Donate to support the show.

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/08/29/tesla-autopilot-crashes-evidence-testimony-wrongful-death/
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/31/park-police-car-chases/
• https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/man-escapes-car-fire-while-214614761.html
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2025/08/30/why-your-rental-car-might-not-be-as-safe-as-you-think/
• https://insideevs.com/news/770586/waymo-tesla-robotaxi-wars-ev/
• https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67ee365c25e6530594bd40c2/683d8d2fa60ac22d542b1049_Securing%20American%20Leadership%20in%20Autonomous%20Vehicles1.pdf
• https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/hot-car-childrens-deaths-continue-while-washington-does-nothing-082725.html
• https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/driver-raises-concern-spotting-dangerous-140000063.html
• https://nypost.com/2025/09/03/us-news/waymo-has-to-confront-aggressive-drivers-and-jaywalkers-in-nyc/
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V552-6972.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V546-2755.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V541-7747.pdf

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems require human intervention or drivers in other cars need to better? VW has a ridiculous idea - make people pay a subscription fee to use the full capabilities of their car. Fred exposes ChatGPT has a nonsense machine, Elon Musk spouts more nonsense and we cover the latest in recalls.

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• https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/08/27/upshot/ev-vs-gas-calculator.html
• https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/08/study-shows-which-vehicles-pollute-the-least-in-every-us-county/
• https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/08/active-driving-assistance/
• https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/subaru-owners-see-value-in-driver-attention-system
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62weyp4qqgo
• https://www.msn.com/en-za/cars/general/unfair-competition-worries-about-european-road-safety-after-eu-us-trade-agreement/ar-AA1LbIUi
• https://electrek.co/2025/08/19/tesla-loses-bid-to-kill-class-action-over-misleading-customers-on-self-driving-capabilities-for-years/
• https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/tesla-faces-new-federal-probe-into-delayed-accident-reporting-082225.html
• https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-rejects-uber-ceo-s-call-for-multi-sensor-self-driving-systems-that-s-why-waymos-can-t-drive-on-highways/ar-AA1L9ziO
• https://www.popsci.com/science/what-is-safest-seat-in-car/
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V527-9228.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V533-9341.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V536-9882.pdf

We are joined by guest Mike Nelson from Nelson Law. Despite advanced safety technologies, over 40,000 traffic fatalities still occur annually. Mike Nelson highlights four main contributors to the problem: speed, distraction, impairment, and vehicle weight. Plus product liability, who owns your vehicle data and will Fred mow your lawn?

Donate Today and let them know we're not going away!

Check out some of Mike Nelson's podcast episodes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwidtZRWZUo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PRCZnXOqd8

Zoox gets an exemption from NHTSA, you can steal a car by hacking the tire pressure monitor, when you ride in a Waymo you agree to defend Waymo, Tesla keeps on Tesla'ing and GM wants to bring back Cruise. That and recalls.

Donate for safety!

This weeks links:

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/federal-regulators-give-zoox-an-exemption-for-its-custom-built-robotaxis/ar-AA1K2hi3
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/gm-restarts-driverless-car-program-more-than-a-year-after-cruise-robotaxi-incident/ar-AA1KlhVD
• https://www.wsj.com/articles/lyft-bets-on-robotaxis-to-drive-revenue-growth-51e4ff36
• https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/08/tesla-robotaxi-scores-permit-to-run-ride-hailing-service-in-texas.html
• https://electrek.co/2025/08/06/us-military-buying-tesla-cybertruck-targets-missiles/
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/consumer-electronics/what-is-tesla-s-joe-mode-how-do-you-enable-it/ar-AA1KovIA
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/cybersecurity/hackers-unlocking-cars-via-tire-sensors/ar-AA1Kh8Jk
• https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/camaro-zl1-tops-chart-of-most-stolen-vehicles
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V508-0485.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V512-5521.pdf
• https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V490-6237.pdf