Feds want private car companies to stop interfering with first responders

The director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Jonathan Morrison issued an order on Wednesday to the developers of autonomous vehicles (AV), saying that it is unacceptable that their vehicles interfere with first responders or the law.

Morrison noted in the letter that the agency has “identified a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and other first responders,” citing instances where these vehicles have driven into emergency areas, blocked the paths of ambulances and firefighters, or failed to recognize and respond to basic safety conditions such as flashing lights, flames, traffic smoke, and fire.

The agency demanded that AV developers present their “solutions” to the problem by the end of the month.

“Let me be clear: the inability to recognize and respond appropriately to such situations represents inefficiency,” Morrison’s letter reads. “Emergencies are not rare or extreme ‘incidents’. Therefore, NHTSA today is issuing a request that AV developers and operators immediately focus their resources on addressing this issue.”

The agency does not specifically name any particular company in the letter; however, the details suggest it is aimed at robotaxi operators like Waymo.

TechCrunch has reached out to Waymo for comment and will update the article once the company responds.

A previous TechCrunch investigation found that Waymo — which operates the largest robotaxi fleet in the United States, with vehicles in cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco — has had repeated run-ins with first responders. In at least six incidents identified by TechCrunch through March of this year, first responders had to take control of Waymo vehicles and pull them out of traffic during emergencies. In one incident, a police officer was in the middle of responding to a mob shooting. In June, a police officer was filmed moving a Waymo to clear the way for first responders to a natural gas explosion in a building.

The agency’s letter to AV developers does not say what the consequences would be if the request is ignored. Nor does it say what acceptable solutions might be. But the agency says it will hold companies accountable, just as it does with human drivers who defy law enforcement.

“Every second is important when law enforcement, firemen or emergency services answer the call because people’s lives are in danger,” the letter said. “That is why human drivers who interfere with this operation are charged a fine and go to jail.”

The agency also noted in a press release accompanying the letter that it is making progress in revising the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which govern vehicle design and equipment requirements. The proposed changes could help autonomous car companies like Tesla and Zoox, which build cars that don’t have steering wheels, pedals, or other features needed for self-driving cars. The agency has already proposed rules that would eliminate the need for windshield wipers, sun visors, anti-fog systems, and tire covers. The organization released a new 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda last week, outlining its proposals.