USDOT Pushes for Self-Driving Cars Without Steering Wheels

Self-driving cars without steering wheels or pedals may soon become a common sight on American roads—thanks to a bold new move by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). In a significant shift, the USDOT has proposed changes to accelerate the approval process for autonomous vehicles (AVs) that don't rely on traditional human controls. This marks a turning point in the future of driverless transportation, potentially removing long-standing regulatory roadblocks for manufacturers and tech firms.

Until now, developers of fully autonomous vehicles had to navigate a complex, years-long exemption process to deploy cars without steering wheels, pedals, or mirrors. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) now says it will simplify and speed up this process—reducing approval times from years to months. This policy shift opens the door for faster innovation and broader real-world testing of autonomous vehicle technology, especially for companies building vehicles from the ground up, without legacy design constraints.

Why USDOT Is Supporting Self-Driving Cars Without Steering Wheels

The core issue for automakers and AV startups has been the outdated requirements within the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which assume the presence of a human driver. These regulations mandate components like pedals, mirrors, and steering wheels—even for vehicles that are fully autonomous. To bypass these standards, manufacturers must apply for exemptions—something only a few have succeeded in doing.

For example, Nuro remains the only company to date that received an FMVSS exemption for its small, low-speed delivery robots, which don’t carry human passengers. Meanwhile, giants like General Motors have struggled. GM’s Cruise division spent more than two years seeking regulatory approval for its driverless vehicle before eventually giving up and defunding the project in 2024.

The USDOT now acknowledges that this sluggish regulatory pace has been a major obstacle to innovation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently stated that the exemption process has been “bogging developers down in unnecessary red tape,” preventing the U.S. from keeping pace with rapidly advancing self-driving car technologies. By streamlining the exemption review timeline to “months rather than years,” the government hopes to level the playing field and attract more investment in AV development.

The Future of Self-Driving Vehicles: A Regulatory Balancing Act

While this move is a win for AV developers, it also raises important questions about safety and accountability. During the Biden administration, efforts were made to increase transparency by requiring AV companies to disclose crash and injury data—helping regulators and the public understand the risks and reliability of autonomous systems.

However, in its latest announcement, the NHTSA made no mention of continuing those data disclosure rules. In fact, the current administration may reverse the Biden-era requirement for companies to report incidents involving both self-driving systems and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). This rollback could slow down progress on public trust and undermine safety monitoring at a time when fully autonomous vehicles are becoming more advanced—and more likely to be deployed at scale.

Experts and safety advocates caution that while speeding up exemptions is necessary, regulators must maintain a balance between innovation and public safety. Without consistent crash reporting, it becomes harder to assess which self-driving technologies are road-ready and which still need refinement. Public trust in self-driving cars without steering wheels hinges on transparency, rigorous testing, and continuous oversight.

What This Means for the Self-Driving Car Industry in 2025

The latest move by USDOT marks a pivotal moment for the AV industry. Startups and automakers that have long been constrained by traditional vehicle design standards now have a clearer—and faster—path to bringing innovative, driverless vehicles to market. This could lead to a surge in vehicles built from the ground up for autonomy: think robotic delivery pods, shuttle buses, and passenger AVs with lounge-like interiors instead of driver cockpits.

Companies like Waymo, Zoox, and Aurora are likely to benefit from these relaxed regulations, as they’ve invested heavily in developing purpose-built autonomous platforms. Meanwhile, legacy automakers may revisit their AV strategies and partnerships, potentially reinvigorating dormant projects that were paused due to regulatory delays.

Beyond the industry, the consumer experience is also poised for transformation. As self-driving cars without pedals or steering wheels become normalized, we could see new forms of urban mobility, enhanced accessibility for non-drivers, and reduced traffic collisions due to human error.

Still, the road ahead isn't free of potholes. Public perception, insurance frameworks, and liability laws must evolve in tandem with these regulatory updates. And without federal mandates for transparency, concerns over AV safety may linger—especially in the wake of high-profile AV crashes.

In short, the USDOT’s push could turbocharge the rollout of self-driving cars without steering wheels, but it must be paired with clear safety oversight to ensure public trust keeps pace with innovation.