Regulators consider letting self-driving vehicles skip manual brake pedals—raising alarms about emergencies and unproven safety metrics. Tesla settles a deadly crash case as critics blast BS safety claims. Meanwhile, “quality” awards and China-car fearmongering get called out, Nvidia’s robotaxi safety talk is vague, steering-wheel “bling” is warned to turn airbags into shrapnel and recalls hit Hyundai, GM, Toyota/Subaru, and Ford.Support the show!https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/wayve-self-driving-technology-2e917ebdhttps://www.jalopnik.com/2203830/nhtsa-plan-autonomous-car-brakes-nearvous/https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/general/us-proposes-to-drop-brake-pedal-requirements-for-self-driving-vehicles/ar-AA26xoGuhttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/06/feds-deny-polestar-authorization-to-sell-cars-in-us-from-model-year-2027/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-musk/senator-demands-tesla-held-accountable-alleged-self-driving-crash-rcna351690https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/18/rivian-owners-file-lawsuit-alleging-false-promises-on-self-driving-features/https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/airlines-are-installing-new-luxury-seats-but-no-one-is-allowed-to-sit-in-them-14e2878chttps://safetyresearch.net/aftermarket-car-bling-continues-to-inflict-harm/https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2026/06/30/child-hot-car-deaths-2026-data-maps/90736117007/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V400-5456.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V399-0136.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V393-3335.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V402-1380.pdf

A New York Times deep dive ties the rise of huge pickups and SUVs to pedestrian deaths, spotlighting poor visibility and high hoods that “punt” people into a run-over path, while lawmakers push the Pedestrian Protection Act to force tougher federal scrutiny and consumer ratings. Automakers deflect toward road design and hype pedestrian-braking tech even as industry fights related rules. A fatal high-speed Tesla crash raises questions about driver-assist overrides, data transparency, and whether automation breeds complacency. A peer-reviewed argument says “edge cases” are inevitable in AI cars because testing every failure combination is impossible. Meanwhile: Waymo recalls, GM revives autonomy ambitions, and Ford unleashes a blizzard of recalls—many fixing earlier failed fixes.Support the show!https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/06/21/us/trucks-suv-pedestrian-crashes.htmlhttps://scanlon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2028https://gmauthority.com/blog/2026/06/increased-pickup-and-suv-size-blamed-for-rising-pedestrian-fatalities/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/21/us/tesla-autopilot-crash-texas.htmlhttps://electrek.co/2026/06/23/tesla-fsd-katy-crash-driver-pedal/https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-senators-ask-review-teslas-full-self-driving-safety-data-citing-reuters-2026-06-16/https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/10/waymo-says-it-built-a-better-benchmark-for-comparing-robotaxis-to-humans/https://thenextweb.com/news/gm-autonomous-driving-robotaxi-sterling-anderson-super-cruisehttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26E035-7637.pdfhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/recalls/2026/06/20/car-recall-leaders-2026-ford-stellantis/90611355007/More recalls on the website.

A roast of autonomous-vehicle hype calls out bold Tesla/robotaxi cost and safety claims as unsupported, then shifts to California’s proposed replacement-tire efficiency rules and the tradeoffs between fuel economy, tread life, and tire waste. A wider look at big-profit SUVs and a snarky take on banning Chinese “surveillance” cars leads into why the EU’s AI Act matters—and what it may still miss on inspection and validation. A deep dive explains how GNSS/GPS can be jammed or spoofed, creating serious self-driving risk. The mood turns grim with a spike in driveway front-over/back-over child deaths tied to huge blind zones, then ends with road-rage stats and Arkansas taking the dubious crown.Support Safety!https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/26/06/53077645/cathie-wood-asks-elon-musk-about-tesla-robotaxi-parking-tickethttps://youtu.be/tz23G_UXCGA?si=LoVfgLmhaMyMWe03 https://electriccarsreport.com/2026/06/toyota-to-demonstrate-liquid-hydrogen-powered-tr-lh2-racing-prototype-at-le-mans/ https://www.jalopnik.com/2187888/new-california-proposal-could-ban-enthusiast-tires/https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/06/michigan-politicians-want-to-ban-chinese-badged-cars-from-even-visiting-the-us/https://www.automotive-iq.com/generative-ai/articles/eu-ai-act-explained-for-automotive-what-changes-for-ai-vehicle-safety-adas-and-autonomous-driving https://www.wbiw.com/2026/06/09/10-children-killed-in-driveway-and-parking-lot-tragedies-in-just-18-days/https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/states-with-the-worst-road-rage

The “magic” Donut Labs battery gets debunked as ordinary lithium‑ion, tied to a crowdfunding-fueled scam with big promises and no manufactured cells, while real solid-state progress is still coming from major automakers. Americans are keeping cars longer (now ~13 years), slowing the spread of safety tech like advanced AEB. Driverless delivery trucks tout reliability and UL 4600 talk, but robotaxis draw scrutiny for safety claims, red-light issues, and a stalled vehicle that delayed firefighters. Zoox safety marketing and exemptions get criticized, Texas is dragged for an unfunded school-bus seatbelt mandate, liquid hydrogen gets a quick reality check, and multiple recalls hit seatbelts, moonroofs, and fire risks (Jeep, Pacifica PHEV).Support the show!https://electrek.co/2026/06/08/donut-lab-solid-state-battery-exposed-lithium-ion-fraud/https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/americans-are-keeping-their-cars-longer-than-ever-and-remaking-the-auto-industry-c169e494https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/driverless-trucks-pepsico-texas-arizona-arkansas-ee4495f0?mod=hp_lead_pos11https://edition.cnn.com/us/waymo-robotaxis-safety-invshttps://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/bodycam-shows-cop-trying-move-102600011.htmlhttps://abc13.com/post/texas-school-districts-struggling-costs-complying-bus-seatbelt-law/19235825/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V356-0668.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V344-7460.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V346-4589.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V363-5757.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V362-0804.pdf

A whirlwind tour of automotive chaos: skepticism toward bold self-driving claims and cherry-picked safety stats, a Tesla crash into a California home, and BYD promising to cover liability when its driver-assist is used “properly.” The discussion also torches rosy “facts” from the autonomous trucking lobby, argues drunk-driving prevention tech isn’t a privacy apocalypse, and flags “zero-gravity” seats as a potential safety risk. A battery deep-dive compares energy density, charging, lifespan, and unanswered cost questions. Recalls roll in for Ford suspension joints, Toyota dashboards, Honda seat sensors affecting airbags, Nissan blank instrument clusters, and GM airbag inflators with rupture risk.Support Auto Safety!https://www.reuters.com/investigations/why-teslas-ai-trainers-dont-trust-its-self-driving-tech-or-its-safety-stats-2026-05-28/https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67ee365c25e6530594bd40c2/688a2ff712e094608196a6b3_AV%20Truck%20Factsheet_.pdfhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/kill-switch-law-means-next-080330472.htmlhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/tesla-autopilot-crashes-claremont-home-102130808.htmlhttps://cleantechnica.com/2026/06/01/byd-takes-on-crash-liability-when-its-driver-assist-system-is-active/https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/china-releases-draft-safety-requirements-ev-battery-recycling-2026-05-26/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V340-0609.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V341-2541.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V332-6150.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V331-8971.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V329-0487.pdf

Waymo’s “final remedy” for flooded roads amounts to geofencing around flash-flood warnings, raising doubts about sensor limits, end-to-end AI hype, and slow remote assistance—especially after a robotaxi reportedly sped through a freeway construction zone with police chasing it, prompting a temporary freeway pause. AV's need to identify themselves to other road users.Tesla is criticized for selectively unredacting crash narratives, Uber is accused of pushing liability limits and manipulating self-insurance to bankroll AV expansion, plus more and recalls.Support the Show!https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/21/waymo-pauses-service-in-four-cities-as-robotaxis-keep-driving-into-floods/https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/waymo-suspends-freeway-rides-pauses-atlanta-operations-amid-safety-fixes-2026-05-21/https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/robotaxi-safety-problems-are-thehttps://www.autoevolution.com/news/waymo-suspends-all-freeway-rides-after-customer-shares-neck-breaking-ride-from-hell-270360.htmlhttps://electrek.co/2026/05/15/tesla-unredacts-robotaxi-crash-narratives-nhtsa/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/us/waymo-robot-taxis-blind.htmlhttps://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Facing-an-existential-threat_-How-Uber-is-navigating-clashes-with-trial-attorneys-assault-lawsuits-and-competition-Los-Angeles-Times.pdfhttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/05/these-clever-active-beam-headlights-are-finally-coming-to-america/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V320-0076.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V316-9486.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V308-8651.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V307-7963.pdf

Car ads keep glorifying speed while broadcast rules obsess over seat belts and ignore speeding, and horsepower hype is called mostly useless for real driving. In Europe, some brands accept lower Euro NCAP scores—often split by trim and optional safety packs—while U.S. ratings feel like everyone gets five stars as testing lags and funding stays thin. A federal bill would tack on an annual EV fee to help pay for roads. Waymo's earn side-eye for flooding blunders, blocking fire stations, and questionable “evidence” from a doctor-backed pro-AV letter, while bold promises claim humans will barely drive in 10 years. NYC may force repeat speed-camera offenders to install GPS-based speed limiters with a daily fee. Recalls include Jeep Cherokee rollaway risk, Tesla and Mercedes display/camera glitches, plus Waymo flood-response issues, and an AV Ride probe for crashes and red-light behavior.Support the show!https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/more-car-ads-promote-vehicle-performance-despite-dangers-of-speedhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/buying/why-some-carmakers-are-intentionally-settling-for-lower-safety-scores/ar-AA23uFoKhttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/05/bipartisan-bill-in-congress-includes-130-annual-ev-registration-fee/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/nyregion/nyc-speed-limiters-cars-frequent-speeders.htmlhttps://futurism.com/advanced-transport/waymo-recall-floodwaterhttps://opmed.doximity.com/articles/an-open-letter-from-the-medical-community-on-america-s-road-deathshttps://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2026/05/18/elon-musk-sees-broad-use-of-self-driving-cars-without-human-monitors/90144524007/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V290-1107.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V283-7135.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V281-7837.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26E026-6527.pdf

A flood sweeps away Waymo's in San Antonio and we dig into safety claims, and why they really don't get tickets. Zook's terms are flagged for burying major warnings, forcing arbitration, and capping liability. Lawmakers are criticized for framing alcohol-impairment prevention tech as “surveillance” while carmakers already monetize driver data. Plus NHTSA is underfunded truck-safety oversight, Tesla’s retrofits for “full self-driving,” police pursuit tech like grapplers and drones, and a batch of recalls from Ford, Volkswagen/Audi, and Jaguar Land Rover.Support Safety!https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/waymo-san-antonio-still-paused-212804570.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBNfHUhmdq8https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/04/24/robotaxis-dc-bill-charles-allen/https://newrepublic.com/article/209475/waymos-wont-solve-traffic-deathshttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/24/opinion/trucking-safety.htmlhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ready-next-car-decide-too-145928352.htmlhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/exclusive-kill-switch-amendment-could-shake-up-the-capitol-hill-fisa-fight/ar-AA21RESZhttps://insideevs.com/news/793786/tesla-hw3-retrofit-micro-factories/https://nypost.com/2026/04/10/us-news/california-congresswoman-pushes-for-technology-to-reduce-deadly-car-chases/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V238-6269.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V240-2255.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V258-9757.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V248-5125.pdf

A New Orleans scheme staged “slammer” crashes into 18-wheelers to cash in on big insurance, spotlighting why dash cams and truck cameras matter and how fraud raises costs for everyone. Regulators also keep letting dangerous “chameleon” trucking companies rebrand and roll on, even with glaring red flags. Meanwhile, phantom braking drama shows how widespread driver-assist tech still lacks strong standards before 2029. Self-driving hype gets shredded over remote supervision, shaky safety claims, and lawsuits over undelivered promises—followed by a grab bag of major recalls from Ford, Honda, Kia/Hyundai, and Ram.support the show!https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/04/20/the-car-crash-conspiracyhttps://www.aol.com/lifestyle/why-letting-cheaper-chinese-cars-140036080.html?guccounter=1https://www.cbsnews.com/projects/2026/chameleon-carrier-trucks/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9Ca5DzYk2Ahttps://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2026/honda-wins-phantom-braking-lawsuit-trial.shtmlhttps://electrek.co/2026/04/18/tesla-robotaxi-launches-dallas-houston-small-geofences/https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/car-owners-are-revolting-over-teslas-self-driving-promises-b76edcddhttps://www.tennessean.com/story/money/cars/2026/04/14/waymo-selfdriving-cars-nashville-strange-behavior-metro-police/89588326007/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V237-6816.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V227-3612.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V232-8722.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V229-0144.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V244-8175.pdf

A wide-ranging safety rant links soaring car prices and shrinking fuel economy to policy shifts, then flirts with a fix: let Chinese automakers compete—if they build in the U.S., ditch subsidies, and address cybersecurity. "Ghost” trucking fleets game DOT numbers to erase violations and push unsafe hours, begging for tighter oversight. Europe’s tiny Tesla FSD “quiz” gets mocked as flimsy liability theater, while both Musk and Waymo safety boasts are slammed as data-cherry-picking. Bright spot: $50M for ambulance blood transfusions at crash scenes. Bonus tips: carry a car fire extinguisher.Support the show!https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/04/13/opinion/affordable-car-cost.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylbvU-lmcpIhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-dangerous-trucking-schemes-putting-americans-at-risk-60-minutes-transcript/https://insideevs.com/news/792801/europe-fsd-quiz-to-activate/https://electrek.co/2026/04/08/musk-tesla-fsd-10x-safer-claim-doesnt-hold-up/https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/04/13/blood-transfusion-trauma-patients-connecticuthttps://www.cbtnews.com/euro-ncap-says-u-s-politics-slowing-vehicle-safety-progress/https://saferoads.org/2026-av-tech-truck-poll/https://www.autosafety.org/autonomous-vehicle-checklist/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/fire-extinguisher-for-cars-do-you-need-one-and-which-type-is-best/ar-AA20RunGhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V218-6077.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V216-4969.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V209-1445.pdf