NHTSA Seeks Input on Flashing Brake Lights and Driver Distance Judgment
Published Date: 5/26/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants your thoughts on a new info collection about pulsating stop lamps, flashing lights, and how drivers judge distance. This affects drivers, car makers, and safety experts, aiming to improve road safety without costing much time or money. You’ve got until July 27, 2026, to share your comments and help shape safer driving tech!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 2 mixed.
NHTSA launches brake‑light safety study
NHTSA plans a voluntary research study to evaluate pulsating stop lamps using up to 270 licensed drivers across three parts: 30 test‑track participants, 200 online survey participants, and 40 simulator participants. The agency will publish a technical report with the results and is seeking OMB approval for the new information collection.
Test‑track volunteers in Southwest Virginia
If you are a licensed driver near Blacksburg, VA (Southwest Virginia) and aged 21–65, you may be recruited for Part 1: a single instrumented vehicle test‑track session estimated at about 3 hours. The Part 1 target is 30 participants.
Online survey participants (crowdsourced)
If you are a licensed driver aged 21–65, you may join the Part 2 online survey (crowdsourcing platform) which targets 200 participants and is estimated to take about 0.5 hours per respondent. The survey presents 54 short animated trials and includes pre‑ and post‑questionnaires.
Simulator study in Minneapolis area
If you are a licensed driver near Minneapolis, MN and aged 21–65, you may be recruited for Part 3: a simulator study targeting 40 participants that requires three sessions totaling about 3.5 hours per participant and includes vision and screening requirements.
Time burden and zero annual cost estimate
NHTSA estimates the one‑time collection totals 386 burden hours (127 annual burden hours over 3 years) and reports an estimated total annual burden cost of $0; any travel costs are described as minimal and expected to be offset by honoraria provided to participants.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-08144 — Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures
The Department of Transportation is bringing back and improving its rules for making new policies, giving guidance, and enforcing laws. This affects anyone involved in transportation regulations, making the process clearer and more consistent. These changes kick in on May 27, 2026, aiming to save time and avoid confusion without adding extra costs.
2026-05024 — Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 102 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles
NHTSA wants to update a safety rule to help self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or gear shifts. They’re proposing to remove the need for a gear position display in these automated vehicles, cutting costs without hurting safety. If you have thoughts, speak up by April 15, 2026!
2026-05023 — Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 103 and FMVSS No. 104 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Incorporation by Reference
NHTSA is updating rules for windshield defrosting, defogging, wiping, and washing to better fit self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or pedals. These cars won’t have to follow old rules meant for human drivers, cutting costs and unnecessary requirements without hurting safety. The changes kick in about six months after the final rule, and manufacturers can still add these features if they want.
2025-22674 — Public Hearing for Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards: The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicle Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
The government is holding a virtual public hearing on January 7, 2026, about new fuel economy rules for cars and light trucks from 2022 to 2031. These rules aim to keep vehicles safer and more affordable while improving fuel efficiency. If you care about how much gas your car uses or how much you pay at the pump, this is your chance to speak up before the rules are finalized.
2026-10363 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Request for Comment; Incident Reporting for Automated Driving Systems (ADS) and Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is asking for approval to continue collecting reports on crashes and incidents involving self-driving cars and advanced driver help systems. They’ve made the reporting easier and more focused on safety, which helps car makers and safety experts. If you have thoughts, speak up by June 25, 2026, because this affects companies working with these smart car technologies and aims to keep roads safer without extra hassle.
2026-10429 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Older Novice Driver Study
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to study how new drivers under 21 behave during their first year of driving. They’re asking the public to share thoughts before they get official approval to collect this info. If you know or are a young driver, this study could help make roads safer, and comments are due by July 27, 2026.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-10411 — Renewal of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition's Charter
The President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition just got its official green light to keep going until 2028! This means the Council will keep advising the President on how to get kids moving, eating right, and enjoying sports to boost health and happiness nationwide. No new money changes, just a fresh two-year pass to keep pushing for stronger, healthier kids and communities.
Next: 2026-10414 — Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 200, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Shiseido America, Inc.; (Cosmetic and Beauty Products); East Windsor and Cranbury, New Jersey
Shiseido America wants to start making a bunch of cool cosmetic and beauty products like lip balm, eye cream, and face serum at their New Jersey factories inside Foreign-Trade Zone 200. This move helps them save money on import taxes by using special trade rules. The government got their request on May 14, 2026, and is reviewing it to give the green light soon.