Despite promises to submit rules on connected-vehicle technology and automatic braking to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by the end of 2013, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had yet to do so as of Jan. 2. The agency did submit a long-delayed set of rules mandating the use of rear visibility cameras in all vehicles.
NHTSA Administrator David Strickland stated in January that the agency would decide if it was going to require installation of connected-vehicle technology in all new vehicles by Dec. 31. With that self-imposed deadline past, Strickland said last week that the agency is making progress on a requirement and hopes to have a decision soon.
NHTSA also missed a self-imposed year-end deadline for a ruling on the installation of automatic braking systems in all future cars and trucks. This measure, however, could be added to the agency’s forthcoming New Car Assessment program.
One new ruling that was submitted to OMB was a revision of rear vehicle visibility standards, which could include a mandate on rear cameras in all new vehicles. Legislation requiring new standards was originally passed in 2007 with a 2011 deadline for implementation. Since then, NHTSA has requested an extension of the deadline five times.
The new standards are expected to be approved before the latest deadline of January 2015.
