There Auto Be A Law

Center for Auto Safety
  • 4.5 (10)
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A discussion on auto safety issues and technological developments, in hopes of providing consumers and enthusiasts with a better understanding of modern vehicles, safety systems, and current issues in the auto industry.

  1. 10H AGO

    How AV companies are stalling—and not just their cars!

    The NTSB investigation of a Santa Monica school-zone crash raises questions about remote “assistance” that looks like a human driving task, while San Francisco records show robotaxis stalling and turning police and firefighters into unpaid roadside help. We dismantles media claims that AVs are clearly safer, arguing the cited studies rely on old, limited Waymo data, questionable benchmarks, and company-authored “peer review.” Fear mongering around driver monitoring, Tesla and railroads, recalls and more. Support the show! https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY26FH008.aspxhttps://www.fastcompany.com/91501807/waymo-robotaxis-san-francisco-uncovered-records-exclusivehttps://futurism.com/advanced-transport/emergency-responders-roadside-assistance-waymohttps://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/federal-surveillance-tech-becomes-mandatory-161321992.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/technology/us-seeks-comment-zoox-petition-deploy-robotaxis-without-steering-wheels-2026-03-10/https://usa.streetsblog.org/2026/03/05/study-academics-agree-avs-will-super-charge-vmt-driving-car-dependence-autonomous-vehicles-waymohttps://www.iihs.org/api/datastoredocument/bibliography/2357https://electrek.co/2026/03/09/tesla-fsd-drives-through-railroad-crossing-barriers-viral-video/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V117-4642.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V123-2100.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V124-0858.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V112-2534.pdf

    58 min
  2. Waymo's Failed U-turn: A Spin on an Emergency

    MAR 5

    Waymo's Failed U-turn: A Spin on an Emergency

    Waymo's school bus trouble gets investigated by the NTSB. Was it the fault of remote assistance, the Waymo driver or everyone else? Maybe Waymo's PR team will take a break - they deserve it - and Waymo will give an honest account of it's shortcomings. In Austin Waymo fails at a U-turn and makes a cop move their car. Destination charges are getting out of hand, China is beating the US at AV safety rules, Arkansas has dangerous PIT maneuvers, recalls and more. Support the show! https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/ntsb-says-waymo-robotaxis-illegally-passed-stopped-school-buses-in-new-incidents/ar-AA1XsFvUhttps://www.autoevolution.com/news/waymo-robotaxi-blocks-first-responders-in-austin-mass-shooting-raising-fresh-questions-about-safety-266511.htmlhttps://www.kxan.com/news/austin-mass-shooting/video-waymo-seen-blocking-first-responders-during-west-sixth-shooting/https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/buying-a-car/most-and-least-expensive-car-destination-charges-a1173758325/https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/02/24/breaking-news/carmakers-push-toward-eyes-off-driving-despite-safety-liability-questions/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/feb/27/arkansas-state-trooper-used-pit-maneuver-on-car/https://www.jalopnik.com/2111787/denmark-red-streetlights-doing-more-than-saving-energy/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V104-9142.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V105-1574.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V106-8604.pdf

    1h 3m
  3. Sue the Computer?

    FEB 26

    Sue the Computer?

    Congressional questions spotlight how Waymo downplays remote control by calling humans “assistants,” even while describing tools that remotely drive car at low speed—raising debates about who counts as the driver, latency, transparency, and who is legally accountable when people are hurt. Fred dives into the world of ODD and how AV companies don't want it defined. Plus recalls. Support the show! https://assets.ctfassets.net/7ijaobx36mtm/7E5uOzS5F7Z1yuFoz27BIc/680a27f89a3aae48977db655a5f45005/Sen._Markey_RA_Letter_Waymo__Response.pdfhttps://junkoyoshidaparis.substack.com/p/why-does-waymos-lexicon-prefer-assistantshttps://junkoyoshidaparis.substack.com/p/never-trust-another-drivereven-ifhttps://electrek.co/2026/02/19/tesla-admits-needs-drivers-and-remote-operators-argues-better-than-waymo/https://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/news/2026/02/24/tesla-sues-california-autopilot-false-advertising/88840398007/https://electrek.co/2026/02/23/tesla-nhtsa-fsd-traffic-violation-investigation-second-extension/https://www.theverge.com/transportation/882993/donut-labs-solid-state-battery-charge-speed-vtt-testhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V081-3468.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V080-7320.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V085-3557.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V101-7237.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V090-1523.pdf

    1h 2m
  4. Big Brother Doesn't Want to Watch You

    FEB 19

    Big Brother Doesn't Want to Watch You

    Tesla removes the term “Autopilot” after a California DMV order. The Halt Drunk Driving Act is supported both by MADD and the alcohol industry but some Republican officials think the government is bad. There is a lot of tech to prevent drunk drivers but, insert scare mongering here. Waymo's PR team does a victory lap by taking over the Washington Post editorial board. Plus more Tesla nonsense and recalls. Support the show! apnews.com/article/federal-law-impairment-detection-car-dui-062d40e885a0e32c6cad0ba70163aef8https://www.seattletimes.com/business/how-fords-hangover-suit-tackles-morning-after-drunken-driving/https://electrek.co/2026/02/17/tesla-rolls-first-steering-wheel-less-cybercab-unit-off-the-line-before-solving-autonomy/https://futurism.com/future-society/tesla-cybercab-dripping-liquidhttps://electrek.co/2026/02/16/tesla-full-self-driving-tried-to-drive-owner-into-lake-viral-video/https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/do-not-drive-warning-unrepaired-takata-chrysler-dodge-jeephttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V067-2498.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V073-9315.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V069-2089.pdf

    58 min
  5. The Great Debate: Automated Vehicles and Human Responsibility

    FEB 12

    The Great Debate: Automated Vehicles and Human Responsibility

    Updates on Uber being held liable for driver misconduct, rear seat safety and Manhattan congestion pricing. Waymo gets more gaslight love, Ford gaslights itself, the Feds want to stop funding speed cameras, we get updates to the underrides act plus recent vehicle recalls impacting Toyota, Chrysler and BMW. Support the show! https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/business/uber-safety-rape-verdict.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2026/02/03/nx-s1-5696544/crash-test-dummy-rear-seathttps://www.jalopnik.com/2089056/manhattan-congestion-pricing-drive-time-suburbs/https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/hands-free-driving-ford-investigation-4fc87266https://waymo.com/safety/impact#faq-how-does-waymos-perf-P0-2https://www.freightwaves.com/news/a-billion-dollar-fix-for-a-distraction-problem-disguised-as-an-underride-problemhttps://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/usdot-limits-traffic-safety-camera-funding/811191/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V049-9292.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V051-3975.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V056-6534.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V059-8421.pdf

    1h 1m
  6. Suddenly Unavoidable, a AV PR story.

    FEB 5

    Suddenly Unavoidable, a AV PR story.

    Phil Koopman joins us to discuss Waymo and it's trouble dealing with school zones, school buses and school children. Waymo's PR team claims their vehicle hit a kid safer than a human would have and try not to think to hard about this or you can see it's 99% PR fluff. Plus recalls. Support the show! https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/was-the-robotaxi-crash-really-unavoidablehttps://philkoopman.substack.com/p/my-new-book-embodied-ai-safetyhttps://www.the-autonomous.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/the-autonomous-safetyarchitecture-fullreport-2nd-edition-2025.pdfhttps://junkoyoshidaparis.substack.com/p/waymos-superhuman-model-whats-itshttps://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/news/2026/01/29/waymo-car-child-santa-monica-california/88414940007/https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/misleading-text-physical-world-can-hijack-ai-enabled-robotshttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V030-0889.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V034-7650.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V023-1627.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V038-3798.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V046-2043.pdf

    1h 9m
  7. Terms of Service - we read them so you don't have to.

    JAN 29

    Terms of Service - we read them so you don't have to.

    This week we pushed through the muck that is the Terms of Service for Uber, Waymo and Tesla's Robo-Taxi. In summary you are agreeing to give up your rights, likeness and dignity just so you can ride in a car without a human behind the wheel. Strange times.

    54 min
  8. Auto Safety Isn't the Expensive Part

    JAN 22

    Auto Safety Isn't the Expensive Part

    Safety is not why new cars are expensive but higher prices make consumers hold onto older, less safe cars. Waymo continues the usual nonsense from them and their PR, paid and unpaid, shills. NHTSA gives Tesla more time to explain why FSD fails. More news on Chinese counterfeit airbags and Ford gives us some recalls. Support the show! Donate. https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/sacrificing-safety-is-not-the-way-to-make-cars-affordablehttps://philkoopman.substack.com/p/the-waymo-school-bus-problemhttps://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/01/feds-give-tesla-another-five-weeks-to-respond-to-fsd-probe/https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/urgent-warning-two-more-deaths-substandard-dangerous-chinese-air-bag-inflatorshttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2026/01/13/states-earbuds-headphones-legal-while-driving/88147204007/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V009-9507.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V012-0477.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V011-0611.pdf

    1h 3m
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4.5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

A discussion on auto safety issues and technological developments, in hopes of providing consumers and enthusiasts with a better understanding of modern vehicles, safety systems, and current issues in the auto industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Center for Auto Safety
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    192
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Center for Auto Safety
  • Show Website
    There Auto Be A Law

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