US proposes dropping brake-pedal rule for driverless vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed on June 25 to amend federal motor-vehicle safety standards to remove the requirement for manual brake controls in vehicles designed solely for fully autonomous (SAE Level 4/5) operation. The change would clear a regulatory hurdle for purpose-built robotaxis without steering wheels or pedals, such as Tesla's Cybercab, while keeping braking-performance and stopping-distance standards intact. Public comments run through July 27, 2026.