NHTSA proposes dropping brake-pedal rule for driverless vehicles

Federal auto regulators have proposed allowing purpose-built driverless vehicles to meet federal braking rules without a traditional brake pedal, but the proposal is not final and would not authorize nationwide robotaxi operations.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began the rulemaking June 25, 2026, through a notice of proposed rulemaking for Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, which covers light-vehicle brake systems. The proposal is aimed at vehicles designed without manually operated driving controls and intended never to be driven by a human.

What NHTSA proposed

If finalized, the rule would remove requirements for a foot-operated service-brake pedal and a hand- or foot-operated parking-brake control in qualifying automated-driving-system vehicles.

Vehicles that retain conventional manual controls, including a steering wheel and pedals, would continue to follow the existing requirements. The proposal also would require brake controls in qualifying vehicles to be activated by onboard systems; it does not create a system in which braking can occur only through an external remote command.

For testing, NHTSA proposes measuring braking from the initial transmission of an electronic command to the vehicle’s brake-control system rather than from force applied to a pedal. The vehicle would still have to translate that command into physical braking.

Stopping performance would remain required

The proposal would not eliminate the existing stopping-distance and braking-performance requirements in FMVSS No. 135. A vehicle without a traditional pedal would still have to demonstrate through alternative testing that it can stop within the required limits.

That distinction matters. The proposal addresses the physical ability of a vehicle’s braking system to apply the brakes and stop. It does not establish whether an automated driving system will make the right braking decision in every road, traffic or weather situation.

NHTSA says it is developing separate safety-performance requirements for automated driving systems. The agency also retains authority to investigate defects and require recalls when warranted.

Why robotaxis are part of the debate

Purpose-built robotaxis are among the vehicles that could benefit from the change because they are designed to operate without a human driver taking control. The issue received renewed attention after federal regulators approved Amazon’s Zoox vehicles to begin charging customers for rides once the company secures required state and local approvals, according to the Associated Press.

That approval did not amount to nationwide permission to operate a commercial robotaxi service. State and local governments still control many operating permissions, and Zoox’s service remains subject to those requirements.

Reuters also reported that the proposed federal change is limited to vehicles without human-driving controls and would preserve stopping-distance standards.

What happens next

The public-comment period for the proposal closed July 27, 2026, according to the published rulemaking record. NHTSA must now review the comments before deciding whether to issue a final rule, revise the proposal or take another action.

Until that process is complete, nothing changes for ordinary drivers or vehicles sold with steering wheels and pedals. Current driver-assistance systems also should not be confused with fully automated vehicles. NHTSA says higher-level automated-driving technologies are not available today for consumer purchase.

If NHTSA ultimately finalizes the proposal, it could remove one federal design barrier for purpose-built autonomous fleets. It would still be only one step in a larger process involving vehicle certification, automated-driving safety oversight, state and local operating permissions and continuing federal defect enforcement.

Sources

• Federal Register: FMVSS No. 135 proposed rule
• NHTSA: Brake-pedal requirements for automated vehicles
• Associated Press: Zoox robotaxi approval
• Reuters: Proposed brake-pedal rule