# 2026-19242: NHTSA to Road Mappers: No National Database, We're Too Broke

2026-19242, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Denial of a Petition for Rulemaking, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published 2026-09-21, effective 2026-09-21; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19242
- As of: 2026-09-28
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-19242
- Title: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Denial of a Petition for Rulemaking
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 59755
- Published: 2026-09-21
- Effective: 2026-09-21
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-09-28

## In one line

NHTSA to Road Mappers: No National Database, We're Too Broke

## Summary

NHTSA said no to a request asking for new rules to create a big national map database for roads. This affects local and state road agencies and map companies, but NHTSA says they don’t have enough info or resources to make this happen. So, no new costs or changes for now, and things stay as they are.

## Abstract

This document denies the September 11, 2025, petition for rulemaking submitted by Eric Dauster ("petitioner"). The petitioner requested that the agency initiate rulemaking to establish new standards for a centralized National Map Database (NMD) containing static roadway information and requiring global mapping providers to conform to these standards. The petitioner stated that the NMD standards should apply to entities responsible for the installation and maintenance of road infrastructure, including local municipalities, state transportation agencies, and private contractors. NHTSA is denying the petition based on a lack of information necessary for the agency to take action under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as well as the agency's view concerning the efficient allocation of agency resources.

## Effects PRIA read

- No National Map Database Requirement: benefit, medium. On September 21, 2026, NHTSA denied a petition to create a centralized National Map Database (NMD). That means local and state road agencies, private road contractors, and global map providers are not being required by NHTSA to build or maintain an NMD, so there are no new federal compliance costs…
- Petition Called For Daily Updates, 72‑Hour Fixes: cost, high. The petition sought NMD standards that would require at least daily map updates and resolving reported map errors within 72 hours, plus accuracy, validation, and cybersecurity requirements. NHTSA said meeting those kinds of requirements would likely be a significant burden on the entities responsib…
- NHTSA: Limited Authority Over Road Owners: benefit, medium. NHTSA concluded the Motor Vehicle Safety Act generally applies to vehicle and equipment manufacturers, not entities that install or maintain road infrastructure. Because of that statutory limit, NHTSA said it likely would not have authority to require municipalities, state transportation agencies,…

## 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
- [2026-19242 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/21/2026-19242/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-denial-of-a-petition-for-rulemaking)
- [2026-19242 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-21/pdf/2026-19242.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-19228, Special Conditions: Skyryse, Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66 Helicopter;…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19228)
- [Next: 2026-19248, Proposed Deletion From the National Priorities List; Correction](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19248)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19242 (as of 2026-09-28).