NHTSA Demands AV Companies Stop Interfering With First Responders

NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison issued a directive to autonomous vehicle developers stating that it is unacceptable for driverless vehicles to interfere with first responders or law enforcement. The agency said it has identified a pattern of driverless AVs entering active emergency scenes, blocking ambulances and firefighters, or failing to respond to flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire, and traffic cones.

The agency demanded that AV developers present their “solutions” by the end of the month. Morrison’s letter called failures to detect and appropriately respond to emergency situations a “functional insufficiency” and said emergency scenes are not rare or extreme “edge cases.”

The letter did not name a specific company, but TechCrunch reported that the details suggest it is aimed at robotaxi operators such as Waymo. TechCrunch previously identified at least six incidents through March in which first responders had to take control of Waymo vehicles and move them during emergency situations; Waymo declined to comment.

NHTSA’s letter does not state what consequences companies could face if they ignore the request, nor does it define what acceptable solutions must include. The agency did imply it would hold companies accountable, noting that human drivers who impede emergency operations can face fines or jail time. Separately, NHTSA said it is making progress on updates to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that could affect vehicles designed without traditional controls such as steering wheels or pedals.