The US agency NHTSA has faced criticism for delays in updating car safety standards. The regulator proposed postponing deadlines for at least 18 tests, and no less than 10 requirements set by Congress are already overdue.
This is especially noticeable in the field of electronic safety systems. This refers to tests for forward collision warning, automatic braking when reversing, and pedestrian detection systems with subsequent braking. New methods for evaluating accident prevention technologies are also being delayed.
The problem is that these functions are no longer experimental. For example, NHTSA previously approved a requirement to make automatic emergency braking (AEB) mandatory for new passenger cars and light trucks in the US starting September 2029. According to the agency's own calculations, the standard could prevent at least 24,000 injuries and 360 deaths annually.
At the same time, NHTSA also has objective reasons for delays: the agency suffers from a lack of funding and staff, and some old research has to be updated due to changes in the vehicle fleet and the emergence of new technologies.
This creates a paradox: car accident prevention systems are developing faster than the regulatory framework can adapt to them. For manufacturers, this means uncertainty of requirements, and for buyers, a slower spread of certain safety features as standard equipment.