Cars to Snitch More Crash Secrets by 2028
Published Date: 11/28/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is updating rules for Event Data Recorders (EDRs) in vehicles, making them record more data for longer before a crash. This affects car makers, who now have until September 1, 2028, to start following the new rules, with a four-year phase-in to full compliance. The changes aim to improve crash data while giving manufacturers extra time to adjust without rushing or extra costs right away.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
One-Year Delay and 4-Year Phase-In
NHTSA proposes moving the first compliance date from September 1, 2027 to September 1, 2028 and adopting a 4-year phase-in: 25% of a manufacturer’s applicable vehicles must comply from 9/1/2028–8/31/2029, 50% from 9/1/2029–8/31/2030, 75% from 9/1/2030–8/31/2031, and 100% on or after 9/1/2031. Small-volume and limited-line manufacturers would begin complying on September 1, 2032, and manufacturers of vehicles produced in two or more stages or altered would begin complying on September 1, 2033. Voluntary early compliance is allowed.
EDR Recording Specs Kept at 20s/10Hz
NHTSA is not changing the December 18, 2024 technical requirements: Event Data Recorders (EDRs) that are subject to Part 563 must record pre-crash data for 20 seconds at a 10 Hz sample rate (20 seconds, 10 samples per second).
Projected Cost Savings From Delay
NHTSA projects that the proposed one-year lead time extension plus phase-in would yield quantified societal cost savings of $33.15 million to $83.80 million for model years 2027–2030 (discounted savings of $29.77M–$75.23M at 3% and $25.95M–$65.57M at 7%).
Driver Privacy Protections Reaffirmed
NHTSA states EDRs do not record personally identifiable information and reaffirmed the Driver Privacy Act of 2015: the vehicle owner or lessee is the owner of EDR data, and retrieval is limited to safety research or with owner consent or a lawful order.
Risk Some Models Could Lose EDRs
NHTSA acknowledges that if manufacturers determine the costs or technical issues of compliance outweigh benefits for certain models, they may discontinue installing EDRs in those vehicles, risking reduced availability of EDR data for some cars.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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