There Auto Be A Law

Center for Auto Safety
  • 4.5 (11)
  • 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. Super Speeders, Waymo and Water Hazards plus Dangerous Ads

    1D AGO

    Super Speeders, Waymo and Water Hazards plus Dangerous Ads

    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

    57 min
  2. Churning the Nonsense: The Waymo files

    APR 30

    Churning the Nonsense: The Waymo files

    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

    1h 4m
  3. Chameleon Carriers, "Slammers", Waymo and Tesla. Is there anywhere safe to drive?

    APR 23

    Chameleon Carriers, "Slammers", Waymo and Tesla. Is there anywhere safe to drive?

    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

    1h 5m
  4. Automated Gullibility

    APR 16

    Automated Gullibility

    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

    1h 1m
  5. Speed cameras, AV regulations and Waymo fails

    APR 9

    Speed cameras, AV regulations and Waymo fails

    DC speed cameras nail extreme “super violators,” but out-of-state tags and “it wasn’t me driving” excuses help offenders dodge consequences. Autonomous-vehicle companies are accused of misleading lawmakers by touting tiny “latency” numbers while downplaying real-world delays from human-in-the-loop remote operations and refusing to reveal how often remote operators intervene. New traffic-fatality estimates show improvement from the COVID spike, but officials are criticized for taking credit while skipping key tech rules on distraction, impairment, and speed limiting. NTSB warns hands-off systems like Ford BlueCruise can fuel complacency and misuse, urges better driver monitoring, speed limits for automation, and stronger crash data collection. Plus: Colorado’s average-speed cameras, Waymo wrong-way school/drive-thru blunders and more. Support the show! https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/03/28/speed-cameras-dc-scofflaws/https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-investigation-into-autonomous-vehicle-companies-use-of-remote-assistance-operators-reveals-serious-safety-gaps-lack-of-transparencyhttps://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/traffic-deaths-2025-early-estimates-2024-annualhttps://apnews.com/article/ford-blue-cruise-ntsb-autonomous-crash-00680c04c9201f3967848b6316ff6a90https://www.motor1.com/news/792050/colorado-automated-speed-limit-cameras/https://www.ktsa.com/report-waymo-autonomous-vehicle-goes-wrong-way-in-school-zone/https://www.motorbiscuit.com/video-shows-waymo-robotaxi-failing-at-an-la-drive-thru-in-viral-disaster-way-way-what-you-doin/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V203-3945.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V199-1493.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V204-7221.pdfhttps://www.motortrend.com/news/stop-sale-recall-2025-2026-chevy-corvette-turn-signal

    1h 3m
  6. Human in the loop and better dummies

    APR 2

    Human in the loop and better dummies

    IIHS data shows bundled driver-assistance features like automatic emergency braking, lane support, and rear AEB cut crash claims, even if repairs cost more. It would be great if there were federal standards. New crash-test rules leave Detroit brands behind, while a NYTimes video on women’s higher crash risk highlights the long-standing male-biased dummy problem and the need for more funding, better testing, and improved simulation models. Gaslights, NYC congestion pricing success, 12V vs 48V electrical systems, Nissan Leaf app shutdown anger, and recalls from Hyundai, Toyota and Jeep. Support the show! https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/safety-benefits-stack-up-from-driver-assistance-featureshttps://www.aol.com/lifestyle/not-one-detroit-car-made-130036019.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm9hIjMoB5Ehttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/opinion/congestion-pricing-traffic-new-york.htmlhttps://www.iihs.org/news/detail/iihs-pushes-improvements-in-crash-avoidance-with-2026-awardshttps://time.com/article/2026/03/27/what-cities-need-to-consider-before-allowing-self-driving-cars/https://cleversolarpower.com/48v-vs-12v-battery/https://www.redwaybattery.com/understanding-the-iec-62133-safety-standard-for-48v-batteries/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-humans-powering-autonomous-vehicle-operations/id1811181944?i=1000758242016https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/14/nissan-leaf-app-shutdown-nissanconnect-ev-apphttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V169-9259.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V179-5005.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V766-8727.pdf

    1h 9m
  7. Arrest that computer driver!?!? With Phil Koopman.

    MAR 26

    Arrest that computer driver!?!? With Phil Koopman.

    This week we're joined by Phil Koopman. We dig into Waymo’s safety claims, noting outdated or unsupported references, shifting software stacks, and metrics that can look better simply because vehicles crash while empty. Plus we highlight regulatory and liability gray zones, arguing “remote assistance” still makes safety-critical driving decisions while industry language tries to make nobody accountable, and warns proposed laws could label the ADS as the “driver.” Other topics include a complaint alleging unaccompanied minors ride in AVs, a wrong-way AV incident, rosy media takes on UK AVs, Tesla Semi hype and recalls/investigations involving power seats, rear cameras, and Tesla FSD in poor visibility. Support the show! https://avsc.sae-itc.com/publication/avsc-04-2023https://cagigunion.org/news/2026/03/17/california-gig-workers-union-files-complaint-against-waymo-for-allegedly-violating-california-permit-by-transporting-unaccompanied-minors/https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/why-robotaxis-have-an-inherent-3xhttps://www.kgw.com/article/news/national/watch-driverless-waymo-car-caught-going-wrong-way/507-00a51f30-e0ed-458e-b8d5-85c6dbbce19bhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/utah-lawmakers-approve-legal-framework-120225763.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/19/my-ride-in-a-self-driving-taxi-londonhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/03/21/autonomous-vehicles-dc-waymo-ddot/https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/truckers-tesla-fans-semi-b0a66e6ehttps://arstechnica.com/security/2026/03/after-hack-some-ignition-interlock-users-couldnt-start-their-own-cars/https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V160-3144.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V173-8909.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V165-2897.pdf

    1h 13m
  8. Waymo's People Problem

    MAR 19

    Waymo's People Problem

    A record number of people are fleeing crash scenes, false claims about the accuracy of passive alcohol detection and we explore Waymo's problem with people outside the vehicle. Waymo customers have been getting surrounded and stuck by people that do not like Waymo. Not sure a software update can fix this. More and recalls. Support the show! https://newsroom.aaa.com/2026/03/fatal-hit-and-run-crashes-reach-record-high-aaa-foundation-study-finds/https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a70769064/nhtsa-to-congress-advanced-impaired-driving-detection-technology-not-ready/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/04/self-driving-car-technology-tesla-crash/686054/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/technology/trapped-inside-a-self-driving-car-during-an-anti-robot-attack.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/business/self-driving-semi-trucks-texas-us.htmlhttps://www.iihs.org/news/detail/lets-prioritize-safety-in-the-vehicles-that-power-our-economyhttps://interestingengineering.com/energy/donut-lab-solid-state-verge-motorcycle-battery-testhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V128-5701.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V135-2222.pdfhttps://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V138-8349.pdf

    1h 4m
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4.5
out of 5
11 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
    200
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Center for Auto Safety
  • Show Website
    There Auto Be A Law

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