# 2026-12981: NHTSA Updates Brake Rules for Self-Driving Cars 2026-12981, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 135 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published 2026-06-26, effective Comments should be submitted no later than July 27, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-03). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12981 - As of: 2026-07-03 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-12981 - Title: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 135 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Transportation Department; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Citation: 91 FR 38593 - Published: 2026-06-26 - Effective: Comments should be submitted no later than July 27, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-07-27 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 2127-AN00 - Last updated: 2026-07-03 ## In one line NHTSA Updates Brake Rules for Self-Driving Cars ## Summary The government is updating brake system rules to better fit cars with self-driving tech and those driven by people. These changes clear up confusing parts, keep safety strong, and cut unnecessary costs for car makers. If you want to share your thoughts, make sure to comment by July 27, 2026! ## Abstract NHTSA is proposing to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light vehicle brake systems." The proposed modifications would distinguish how regulations apply to vehicles with and without manually operated driving controls. The proposed modifications would clarify definitions, telltale requirements, performance requirements, and test procedures in the standard and remove sections that are no longer relevant. The stopping distance performance requirements, which address the primary safety purpose of the standard, would still apply to all subject vehicles. This rulemaking would remove unnecessary regulatory burdens and costs without detriment to vehicle safety. ## Effects PRIA read - Allow ADS-Only Cars To Drop Brake Pedals: benefit, medium. The proposal would allow vehicles designed never to be operated by a human driver (ADS-equipped vehicles without manually operated driving controls) to omit foot-operated service brake pedals and hand- or foot-operated parking brake controls. Such vehicles must still provide a means for the vehicle… - Brake Warning Telltales Must Be Shown To Passengers: benefit, low. For ADS-equipped vehicles without manually operated driving controls, the brake system warning (renamed a "brake system warning telltale") must be clearly visible to occupants in all designated seating positions. NHTSA proposes excepting such vehicles from the requirement that the telltale activate… - Parking Brake No Longer Must Be Friction-Type: benefit, low. NHTSA proposes to remove the specific requirement that the parking brake be a friction-type system while keeping the requirement that the parking brake retain engagement by solely mechanical means and hold the vehicle stationary for 5 minutes in both forward and reverse on a 20 percent grade. Fully… - Stopping Distance Rules Apply To ADS Vehicles: benefit, medium. NHTSA would keep all existing stopping distance performance requirements in FMVSS No. 135 for every covered vehicle. For vehicles without a brake pedal, stopping distance would be measured from the point of initial transmission of an electronic command signal to the service brake control until the… - Disallow Controls That Disable ABS: benefit, low. The proposal would revise FMVSS No. 135 to state that a control to disable the anti-lock braking system (ABS), either fully or partially, is prohibited for subject vehicles. ## Related documents - [2026-19964](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19964): The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, 2026-09-30 - [2026-11072](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11072): Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214; Side Impact Protection; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 305a; Electric-Powered Veh…, 2026-06-03 - [2026-08144](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08144): Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures, 2026-04-27 - [2026-05024](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-05024): Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 102 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles, 2026-03-16 - [2026-05023](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-05023): Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 103 and FMVSS No. 104 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Incorporatio…, 2026-03-16 - [2025-22674](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-22674): Public Hearing for Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards: The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicle Rule III for Model Years 20…, 2025-12-12 ## Sources - [2026-12981 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/26/2026-12981/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-modernization-of-fmvss-no-135-to-accommodate-ads-equipped) - [2026-12981 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-26/pdf/2026-12981.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-12980, ADS-Equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation Program; Withdrawal](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12980) - [Next: 2026-12989, Modernizing Security Requirements](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12989) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12981 (as of 2026-07-03).