There Auto Be A Law

Hosted by Center for Auto Safety

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211

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Aug 2026

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About the show

A discussion on 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 auto industry.

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August 13, 20261 hr 6 min

Flock Cameras, Duct Tape and People are Safer than Waymo

A loose plastic body panel sparks a debate: glue is a hidden, warranty-voiding headache, while tape is visible and replaceable. Flock license-plate cameras—useful for stopping theft, but ripe for stalking, bad data, and misuse, prompting calls for audits and safeguards and even contract drops like the LAPD’s. Auto insurers get roasted for denying more liability claims and for “household member” technicalities that can zero out coverage. Waymo takes heat for secrecy, arbitration-heavy terms, liability limits, remote assistance delays, and “superhuman” hype, plus news it’s importing Chinese Zeekr vans. Recalls: Chrysler seat belt retractors, Toyota blank instrument displays, Tesla headlamp glare, Rivian turn signals.Support the show!https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/us/flock-cameras-can-track-every-car-in-america-police-love-them-citizens-dont.htmlhttps://www.404media.co/lapd-regularly-pulled-over-innocent-people-because-license-plate-readers-flagged-their-cars-as-stolen/https://www.wsj.com/finance/if-you-get-in-a-car-crash-the-risk-is-growing-your-insurance-wont-pay-1522236chttps://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/dems/peters-blumenthal-release-gao-report-finding-doge-misled-americans-about-claimed-savings/https://www.autosafety.org/podcast/terms-of-service-we-read-them-so-you-dont-have-to/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2026/08/02/americans-cant-buy-chinese-evs-waymo-is-importing-thousands/https://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/news/2026/07/17/driver-moose-crash-in-volvo-safety-design/90962301007/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V510-6120.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V511-8251.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V507-2774.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V508-6656.pdf

August 6, 20261 hr 9 min

Zoox and NHTSA sitting in a tree...

A sharp, skeptical rundown of how federal regulators are easing the path for autonomous vehicles—highlighting a Zoox exemption from key occupant-protection standards, a thinly funded industry-led push for AV “performance standards,” and a Congress bill framed as safety but criticized as preempting state oversight. Plus a “freedom cars” proposal to block mandates for connectivity. We argue that privacy should be fixed by banning data sales, not by ditching safety-enabling tech. Real-world robotaxi risks for blind minors and riders with mobility issues get spotlighted, plus more and recalls.Support Safety!https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/cutting-red-tape-safely-fast-track-automated-vehiclehttps://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/31/2026-15485/zoox-grant-of-temporary-exemption-from-portions-of-various-requirements-of-the-federal-motor-vehiclehttps://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2026/07/29/waymo-meltdowns-revive-av-lobbying-fight-01015521https://www.jalopnik.com/2227747/sean-duffy-freedom-cars-data-bonded/https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/cars/driver-assistance-technology-dashboard-ead96bd2https://electrek.co/2026/08/03/tesla-fsd-v14-lite-hw3-computer-failures/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/business/uber-sexual-assault-lawsuits.htmlhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V481-9237.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V487-9835.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V489-5381.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26E050-7856.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26E051-5250.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V495-1973.pdf

July 30, 20261 hr 10 min

Navigating Autonomous Risks

Regulators are starting work on new car-door escape rules after reports of people trapped and killed in Teslas when electric latches fail, but the issue wasn’t treated as a defect requiring a recall. The conversation also blasts Tesla’s vision-only approach as NHTSA seeks an internal “Radar Saves Us” document, and argues AVs operate in a standards-free Wild West. California lawmakers push bills to force robotaxis to cooperate with first responders and allow geofencing. Waymo’s “safer than humans” claim is picked apart for shaky data and missing confidence levels. Backup cameras are praised for cutting child backover injuries and deaths, even as recalls pile up—especially Ford’s.Support Safety. Support the Show!https://electrek.co/2026/07/21/nhtsa-tesla-radar-saves-us-document-fsd-probe/https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/san-francisco-waymo-washington-01013227https://sfstandard.com/2026/07/22/dave-cortese-sb-1246-robotaxi-qa/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-07-26/multiple-people-injured-pico-union-collision-waymohttps://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/trumps-transportation-department-launches-new-initiative-using-ai-modernizehttps://www.iihs.org/news/detail/waymos-driverless-cars-crash-less-often-than-peoplehttps://www.jalopnik.com/2222264/iihs-says-waymos-are-safer-than-human-drivers/https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/general/do-backup-cameras-make-driving-safer/ar-AA28HHGChttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V468-6532.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V470-7045.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V458-5745.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V473-2438.pdf

July 23, 20261 hr 4 min

Emergency! Robotaxis in the Way.

Robotaxis rack up clashes with first responders in Austin, and the “training” offered is click-through PR. A critique argues autonomous-vehicle safety isn’t comparable to medicine because AVs lack rigorous independent certification, accountability, and transparency, and “edge cases” are really unsafe control failures. Tesla’s remote assistance reportedly drove a robotaxi into a stump, raising doubts about remote driving and camera-only sensing. DC debates highlight equity claims for blind riders alongside safety and exploitation risks Plus Recalls!Support Safety!https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/other/as-robotaxis-expand-in-austin-challenges-with-first-responders-highlight-limits-of-local-control/ar-AA28nqRbhttps://www.ghsa.org/resource-hub/waymo-first-responder-av-traininghttps://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/14/robotaxi-riders-falling-asleep/https://www.noemamag.com/why-we-demand-perfect-machines-yet-tolerate-human-carnage/https://electrek.co/2026/07/20/tesla-robotaxi-remote-operator-crash-houston/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/07/16/waymo-really-wants-operate-dc-does-dc-want-waymo/https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/uber-s-robotaxi-lobbying-effort-puts-it-on-a-collision-course-with-waymo/ar-AA27NXOMhttps://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/fhwa-removes-bike-lanes-speed-cameras-safety-measures-list/825538/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V441-0046.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V451-5134.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V452-5146.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26E044-9233.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V448-4416.pdf

July 16, 202658 min

Edge Cases with Phil Koopman

Phil Koopman is back. Federal regulators warned autonomous vehicle operators to fix dangerous interactions with first responders and promised meetings and recall pressure, sparking debate over NHTSA’s limited tools and the need to preserve state enforcement of driving behavior. A deep dive reframed “edge cases” as situations vehicles aren’t trained to handle—often not rare and sometimes severe—arguing geofencing and databases aren’t foolproof, while remote assistance looks like a permanent crutch with its own failure modes. There’s also a bright congestion-pricing win in NYC for ambulance times, plus recalls for Kia Telluride fire risk, Honda Odyssey camera corrosion, and Ram 1500 headlamp flicker.Support Safety!https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/av-developers-automated-vehicle-that-cannot-safely-interact-first-responders-dangerhttps://philkoopman.substack.com/p/nhtsa-broadens-scope-of-acceptablehttps://avsafety.substack.com/p/edge-cases-and-the-long-tail-of-safetyhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/phil-junko-on-av-safety/id1894854190https://waymo.com/blog/2026/07/time-geo-crash-risk-effect/https://www.jalopnik.com/2212493/nyc-congestion-pricing-cut-ems-response-times-by-one-minute/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V430-6699.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V423-4353.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V421-4385.pdf

July 9, 20261 hr 8 min

Waymo's Firework Fiasco

Waymo has a rough July 4th in San Francisco: robotaxis roll over live fireworks, one catches fire, and a traffic jam forms with a long line of stalled vehicles; in another case, two 15-year-olds ride one while allegedly drinking and shooting projectiles. A Tesla Semi crash kills two people, raising questions about automatic emergency braking and driver monitoring, while regulators still lack a finalized heavy-truck AEB standard. A deep dive celebrates the right-edge white line’s safety history, then critiques “independent” AV safety reviews and rosy government messaging. A model argues broad deployment of proven safety tech (AEB, speed assistance, alcohol detection) beats AV hype. Recalls cover Ford pedestrian sounds, Mach‑E differential failure, Mustang wiper glitches, and a GM third-row power-fold seat hazard.Support Auto Safetyhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/terrifying-moment-waymo-drives-exploding-205608345.htmlhttps://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/waymo-firework-fire-san-francisco-22333244.phphttps://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/dozens-waymos-clog-presidio-july-142239118.htmlhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/bay-area-teen-waymo-riders-nabbed-for-allegedly-shooting-projectiles-from-robotaxi/ar-AA27pze0More links on the site.

July 2, 20261 hr 4 min

We don't need no stinkin' brake pedals

Regulators consider letting self-driving vehicles skip manual brake pedals—raising alarms about emergencies and unproven safety metrics. Tesla settles a deadly crash case as critics blast BS safety claims. Meanwhile, “quality” awards and China-car fearmongering get called out, Nvidia’s robotaxi safety talk is vague, steering-wheel “bling” is warned to turn airbags into shrapnel and recalls hit Hyundai, GM, Toyota/Subaru, and Ford.Support the show!https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/wayve-self-driving-technology-2e917ebdhttps://www.jalopnik.com/2203830/nhtsa-plan-autonomous-car-brakes-nearvous/https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/general/us-proposes-to-drop-brake-pedal-requirements-for-self-driving-vehicles/ar-AA26xoGuhttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/06/feds-deny-polestar-authorization-to-sell-cars-in-us-from-model-year-2027/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-musk/senator-demands-tesla-held-accountable-alleged-self-driving-crash-rcna351690https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/18/rivian-owners-file-lawsuit-alleging-false-promises-on-self-driving-features/https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/airlines-are-installing-new-luxury-seats-but-no-one-is-allowed-to-sit-in-them-14e2878chttps://safetyresearch.net/aftermarket-car-bling-continues-to-inflict-harm/https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2026/06/30/child-hot-car-deaths-2026-data-maps/90736117007/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V400-5456.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V399-0136.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V393-3335.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V402-1380.pdf

June 25, 20261 hr 6 min

Ford's Record Recall Marathon

A New York Times deep dive ties the rise of huge pickups and SUVs to pedestrian deaths, spotlighting poor visibility and high hoods that “punt” people into a run-over path, while lawmakers push the Pedestrian Protection Act to force tougher federal scrutiny and consumer ratings. Automakers deflect toward road design and hype pedestrian-braking tech even as industry fights related rules. A fatal high-speed Tesla crash raises questions about driver-assist overrides, data transparency, and whether automation breeds complacency. A peer-reviewed argument says “edge cases” are inevitable in AI cars because testing every failure combination is impossible. Meanwhile: Waymo recalls, GM revives autonomy ambitions, and Ford unleashes a blizzard of recalls—many fixing earlier failed fixes.Support the show!https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/06/21/us/trucks-suv-pedestrian-crashes.htmlhttps://scanlon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2028https://gmauthority.com/blog/2026/06/increased-pickup-and-suv-size-blamed-for-rising-pedestrian-fatalities/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/21/us/tesla-autopilot-crash-texas.htmlhttps://electrek.co/2026/06/23/tesla-fsd-katy-crash-driver-pedal/https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-senators-ask-review-teslas-full-self-driving-safety-data-citing-reuters-2026-06-16/https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/10/waymo-says-it-built-a-better-benchmark-for-comparing-robotaxis-to-humans/https://thenextweb.com/news/gm-autonomous-driving-robotaxi-sterling-anderson-super-cruisehttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26E035-7637.pdfhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/recalls/2026/06/20/car-recall-leaders-2026-ford-stellantis/90611355007/More recalls on the website.

June 18, 202653 min

Cathie Wood: Fraud or Fool?

A roast of autonomous-vehicle hype calls out bold Tesla/robotaxi cost and safety claims as unsupported, then shifts to California’s proposed replacement-tire efficiency rules and the tradeoffs between fuel economy, tread life, and tire waste. A wider look at big-profit SUVs and a snarky take on banning Chinese “surveillance” cars leads into why the EU’s AI Act matters—and what it may still miss on inspection and validation. A deep dive explains how GNSS/GPS can be jammed or spoofed, creating serious self-driving risk. The mood turns grim with a spike in driveway front-over/back-over child deaths tied to huge blind zones, then ends with road-rage stats and Arkansas taking the dubious crown.Support Safety!https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/26/06/53077645/cathie-wood-asks-elon-musk-about-tesla-robotaxi-parking-tickethttps://youtu.be/tz23G_UXCGA?si=LoVfgLmhaMyMWe03 https://electriccarsreport.com/2026/06/toyota-to-demonstrate-liquid-hydrogen-powered-tr-lh2-racing-prototype-at-le-mans/ https://www.jalopnik.com/2187888/new-california-proposal-could-ban-enthusiast-tires/https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/06/michigan-politicians-want-to-ban-chinese-badged-cars-from-even-visiting-the-us/https://www.automotive-iq.com/generative-ai/articles/eu-ai-act-explained-for-automotive-what-changes-for-ai-vehicle-safety-adas-and-autonomous-driving https://www.wbiw.com/2026/06/09/10-children-killed-in-driveway-and-parking-lot-tragedies-in-just-18-days/https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/states-with-the-worst-road-rage

June 11, 20261 hr 3 min

Texas mandates seat belts but forgets the funding

The “magic” Donut Labs battery gets debunked as ordinary lithium‑ion, tied to a crowdfunding-fueled scam with big promises and no manufactured cells, while real solid-state progress is still coming from major automakers. Americans are keeping cars longer (now ~13 years), slowing the spread of safety tech like advanced AEB. Driverless delivery trucks tout reliability and UL 4600 talk, but robotaxis draw scrutiny for safety claims, red-light issues, and a stalled vehicle that delayed firefighters. Zoox safety marketing and exemptions get criticized, Texas is dragged for an unfunded school-bus seatbelt mandate, liquid hydrogen gets a quick reality check, and multiple recalls hit seatbelts, moonroofs, and fire risks (Jeep, Pacifica PHEV).Support the show!https://electrek.co/2026/06/08/donut-lab-solid-state-battery-exposed-lithium-ion-fraud/https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/americans-are-keeping-their-cars-longer-than-ever-and-remaking-the-auto-industry-c169e494https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/driverless-trucks-pepsico-texas-arizona-arkansas-ee4495f0?mod=hp_lead_pos11https://edition.cnn.com/us/waymo-robotaxis-safety-invshttps://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/bodycam-shows-cop-trying-move-102600011.htmlhttps://abc13.com/post/texas-school-districts-struggling-costs-complying-bus-seatbelt-law/19235825/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V356-0668.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V344-7460.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V346-4589.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V363-5757.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V362-0804.pdf

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