Self-Driving Cars Get Special Pass from Safety Rules—Your Thoughts?
Published Date: 3/11/2026
Notice
Summary
Zoox, a company making self-driving cars, asked the government for a temporary break from some safety rules to test their automated vehicle. This affects drivers and passengers who might see new tech on the road soon. The government wants your thoughts by April 10, 2026, before deciding if Zoox can get this special pass.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Up to 2,500 robotaxis/year could be exempted
Zoox asked NHTSA on August 22, 2025 for a temporary, two-year exemption that would allow up to 2,500 of its ADS-equipped "Zoox robotaxi" vehicles to be manufactured, sold, or deployed into interstate commerce in each 12‑month period without full compliance with certain Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Driverless design seeks rule waivers
Zoox seeks exemptions from portions of eight FMVSS (Nos. 103, 104, 108, 111, 135, 201, 205, and 208) and states its vehicle is designed never to be operated by a human driver—for example, it does not have the service brake pedal required by FMVSS No. 135.
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