Flawed Tires Get NHTSA's Thumbs-Up: No Fixes Required

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.

2026-06507 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Novel Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Designs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants your thoughts on a new study about cool, next-level car controls called Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI). This one-time info collection aims to help make driving safer and smarter, and they need approval before starting. If you’re interested, send your comments by June 2, 2026—no cost to you, just your voice!

2026-06254 — Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 110 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles

NHTSA is updating a safety rule to help self-driving vehicles that don’t have a traditional driver’s side. Instead of the usual spot, these vehicles can put their tire and load info placard on the left side, making it easier to follow the rules without risking safety. This change affects vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less and invites public comments by May 1, 2026—no big costs, just smarter rules for smart cars!

2026-05503 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Request for Comment; Event Data Recorders

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is asking for approval to continue collecting info from event data recorders (EDRs), the gadgets in cars that record safety and driving data. This affects car makers and safety researchers who use this info to improve vehicle safety. Comments on this plan are open until April 20, 2026, and the goal is to keep gathering useful data without adding extra hassle or costs.

Previous: 2025-18474 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 18f-1 and Form N-18f-1

The SEC is asking for comments on extending a rule that lets certain investment funds choose how they pay back investors. Fewer funds are filing the required form now, so the paperwork time dropped from 12 to 8 hours a year—no extra costs involved. If you’re part of these funds, now’s the time to weigh in before the extension gets approved!

Next: 2025-18476 — Waivers and Alternative Requirements for Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) Grantee

Texas is getting special rules for its Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds to help recover from disasters faster and smarter. These changes give Texas more flexibility on how to use the money and meet deadlines, speeding up important projects. This means Texas can protect communities better and quicker with the same grant money.