There Auto Be A Law

Full EV's or hybrids? That's the question we start of this week with. NHTSA and Congress are starting to, maybe, kinda, sorta work on outdated legislation and rules around self driving cars, Kyle from GM Cruise releases an ad that would have him be failed by Fred's 8th grade teacher and a couple of recalls. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/14/opinion/electric-vehicles-toyota-hybrids.html https://ww...

Californian's! July 13th is the day to make your voice heard on autonomous vehicles. Your state wants them everywhere but the local people don't want 'em. And AV's don't understand traffic cones. New cars are really expensive to repair, Toyota claims it is far ahead in solid state batteries, Telsa still Tesla'ing and Tau of Fred delves into cyber security and your car. This weeks links: https://ww...

This episode is all of the AV Bill of Rights edited into one episode. https://www.autosafety.org/av-bill-of-rights/ Minimum Requirements for Autonomous Vehicle SafetyThe Autonomous Vehicle Consumer Bill of Rights uniquely provides high level design requirements necessary to assure that the AV design will provide adequate security, privacy, and operational safety consumers deserve and demand.

What's torque? Listen and you can find out. And it's not safe to be a pedestrian, San Francisco is maybe pushing back against robo-taxis, NHTSA proposes that heavy trucks should use AEB and Recall Roundup. This weeks links: https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/06/pedestrian-deaths-rose-in-2022-some-states-more-dangerous-than-others/ https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2023/06/23/report-provides-more-reasons-...

Voters in Massachusetts voted for "Right to Repair" but NHTSA says no, Mercedes gets approval for level 3 driving and every Tesla Semi is recalled. Related Links https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/06/feds-tell-automakers-not-to-comply-with-mass-right-to-repair-law/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/subaru-buyers-take-a-hit-in-mass-right-to-repair-fight/ar-AA1cC1od https://www.nhtsa.gov/site...

Hey Listeners,Thank you for listening. Without you we'd be talking to ourselves. This week we touch on the I-95 fire, Toyota wasting engineering time on stalling EV's, GM Cruise still blocking emergency responders, the dumbness of the Telsa Cybertruck, the NHTSA OIG report, Fred discusses congestion pricing and Recall Roundup. Related Links https://www.eenews.net/articles/needed-car-experts-to-fen...

For our 50th episode we take a deep dive into Automatic Emergency Braking and NHTSA's proposed rule to make it required for all cars. We like that idea. Can they propose a rule for no angry drivers? Plus, Fred channels Mr. Bean and discusses more about the environmental details of electric cars and how we get power. In Recall Roundup we learn that Tesla's need steering wheels. Who knew? Links http...

Is height-ism a thing? Fred thinks it. Tesla opens their superchargers to Ford, NHTSA tells them to stop with the videogames, a whistleblower explains the lies around Tesla Full Self Driving (still not a thing), Fred explains synthetic oil, quizzes the non-scientists and shares his Woodstock 1969 experience. Put on your seatbelts cause this is a fun one. https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/23/23733547...

NHTSA updates their new car assessment program to take pedestrians into account. Fred explains why simulations are not enough to make Autonomous Vehicles road worthy. Nearly half of all vehicle passengers killed on U.S. roads in 2021 were not wearing a seat belt. An update on the Hyundai/Kia/TikTok car theft problem. GM thinks a massive EV Escalade is a good idea. French Canadians are charging ext...

Hi,This week we try out some new transcription software. Part of what it does is summarize an episode. How's this take away: Donate to help patent Fred's therapy for his traumatic brain injury caused by a bumper car. If this is the future, we've got nothing to worry about. But you should still donate: https://www.autosafety.org/support-us/ Topics covered: ARC Airbag recall. https://www.wsj.com/art...

Your car is a computer on wheels that the auto manufacturers won't let you repair. Apple co-founder says Tesla is an example of AI that is trying to kill you. Waymo doesn't understand road flares, Cruise blames their safety driver, something called a Fred light plus Recall Roundup and the Consumer Autonomous Vehicle Bill of Rights # 12. Mentioned links: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023...

A dust storm causes crashes in Illinois, Anthony worries about groceries becoming projectiles, Cruise and Waymo cause laughs, Tesla's lawyers pretend Elon didn't say what Elon said and Fred continues with the Consumer AV Bill of Rights. Plus the tank story. Mentioned Links https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/05/01/illinois-dust-storm-i55-crash/ https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/...

We are joined by special guests Chi-Hao Chang - Associate Research Scientist at Dow and John McKeen – Technical Director, Dow Mobility Science. They walk us through the depths of EV batteries, thermal runaway, EV battery fires and most importantly Fred has people to geek out with. Channel your inner science-self and download this one now.

This week we have special guest Marcy Edwards of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). She talks us through child safety issues, back seat safety issues and answers Anthony's ridiculous question about crash testing his own car. https://www.iihs.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@iihs-hldi Also we have an update about Fred and the tank story. Stay tuned for that to be revealed in a couple o...

This week we discuss the EPA mandate for electric vehicles and how the safety issue of vehicle weight is ignored. And since most people now drive trucks cars are getting even heavier. Also, we visit the world of Autonomous Vehicles and check in with Auroa, mildly praise and mildly shame Kyle from Cruise, Fred covers the need for safety inspections of software with AV's. recall roundup and bust the...

GM Cruise is getting the old hit and run treatment. Who do you talk to after hitting a car driving without any occupants? How much range do we need in EV batteries? Lighter cars are safer but more range equals heavier, more dangerous, batteries. Want a round steering wheel from Tesla? Good luck. GM says no to CarPlay and Android integration, Zoom and Tik Tock in your car, Recall Roundup and the Ta...

Amazing guest this week - Joanna L. Johnson. She runs us through the issues with Hyundai/Kia oil leaks - the drain plug falls out. Sorry, I gave away the ending. Joanna explains what every car owner should do - save all of your service records and maybe get a prescription for Beta blockers. OK the last part is my idea. Related links below. Also, this is a message for Kyle at Cruise, your car crash...

Learn the name Kyle Vogt. He's the CEO of GM's autonomous vehicle company, GM Cruise. The nonsense he spouts makes Elon Musk seem almost reasonable. This week we meet his, detached from reality, views on automated vehicles. Plus more Hyundai/Kia theft news, backseat safety, EV battery repair-ability and more. This weeks links: https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23718358/ag-letter-to-hyundai-an...

Crash test dummies, airless tires, how to date your tires, Tesla crashes, Tesla "theft" and more. Plus the Tao of Fred and Recall Roundup. Mentioned links: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105595 https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/03/we-need-better-crash-test-dummies-says-government-accountability-office/ https://usa.streetsblog.org/2023/03/14/study-cognitive-screenings-for-aging-drivers-cut-som...

NHTSA is taking advice from Anthony and investigating Zoox. GM complains about boogeyman burdensome regulations for their AVs and their marketing department creates a silly name for a good start at improving on ADAS features. Americans are "fearful" and concerned about Automated Vehicles. USPS cuts costs by neglecting safety. Waymo releases a transparency report that is unparalleled in the industr...

Telsa's Full Self Driving gets recalled. Hyundai/Kia fix their TikTok problem. Mercedes says regulations are good. Plus recall roundup and Fred delves into the 3rd bullet point of the AV Bill of rights. Mentioned links: https://slate.com/technology/2023/02/tesla-recall-full-self-driving-nhtsa-musk-regulation.html https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/crash-avoidance-features-improve-safety-but-complica...

Special Guest Janette Fennell discusses how her experience being kidnapped and locked into the trunk of her car led to her starting a non-profit that led to the Federal requirement for a trunk release cable. We also discuss the need for better systems to protect children from frontovers, backovers and being accidentally left inside cars. Check out Janette's organization at: kidsandcars.org Gene We...

Self certified autonomous vehicles? American are obsessed with pickup trucks... to use at the Piggly Wiggly? We release the Automated Vehicle Bill of Rights.. draft 1. Links we mentioned: https://www.autosafety.org/support-us/ https://www.autosafety.org/av-bill-of-rights/ https://www.axios.com/ford-pickup-trucks-history https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/02/13/highway-road-sign-mes...

We are joined by Hadley, MA police Chief Michael Mason to discuss AV's (autonomous vehicles) and other auto safety related issues. It's a good one.

EV Hummers, Goodyear tire investigation, Kia/Hyundai's can't get insured, cities pushing back against AV's, recall roundup and the Tao of Fred.