hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Mandates robust incident reporting and public data release for self-driving cars.
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)
Introduced in the Senate, sent to committee.
This bill, introduced by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), requires car manufacturers and operators to provide detailed monthly data to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about incidents involving autonomous vehicles and advanced driver-assist systems. This includes miles driven, collisions causing injury, and 'unplanned stoppage events' where vehicles unexpectedly stop. All this data would be made public online. The bill was just introduced in the Senate and assigned to the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee for review.
Introduced Jan 29, 2026
The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 29, 2026, by Senator Ed Markey and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. For it to become law, it must pass through this committee, be voted on and passed by the full Senate, then pass the House of Representatives, and finally be signed by the President.
If this bill passes, you would gain access to a new public database of information about how self-driving vehicles and advanced driver-assist systems perform on public roads. This would include detailed statistics on miles driven, collisions that cause injuries to people outside the vehicle or vulnerable road users, and specific events where these vehicles stop unexpectedly and interfere with traffic, public transit, or emergency services. Companies making and operating these vehicles would be required to collect and submit this detailed data monthly to the government.
Supporters Say
Supporters say increased data transparency is crucial for public safety and building trust in autonomous vehicle technology.
Critics Say
Critics might express concerns over the burden of extensive reporting requirements on manufacturers.
Supporters believe that making this detailed incident data public will help consumers, researchers, and regulators better understand the safety performance and limitations of autonomous vehicles, fostering safer development and deployment. Critics, however, might argue that the scope and frequency of the required reporting are overly burdensome for manufacturers, potentially slowing innovation or forcing disclosure of sensitive operational details.