Self-Driving Cars May Soon Ditch Steering Wheels And Pedals, Safety Chief Says

The head of US auto safety oversight says that self-driving cars shouldn't need manual controls. Speaking to Squawk Box, Jonathan Morrison, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said he supports doing away with those mandatory items.

"If you're developing a vehicle that is designed never to be driven by a human operator, does it make any sense to require manual control for the vehicle?" Morrison said. "I think the answer is pretty clear there."

Right now, manual controls are mandated. Many early self-driving rideshare options, like Waymo's Jaguar i-Pace SUVs, are little more than modified road vehicles in terms of the controls they have. Many still use human drivers for oversight during testing in new cities, including Waymo.

Of course, ditching those manual controls means there's no one to take over if things go wrong. They do, sometimes to disastrous effect. A Cruise robotaxi dragged a woman through traffic in one accident. Waymo taxis have been seen blocking traffic due to software glitches. Some companies, like Waymo, also use human drivers who can remotely take over in emergencies.

The line Morrison lays out is a thin one: he believes the NHTSA should be an advocate for innovation, but the agency is also charged with policing automakers.

Meanwhile, federal regulations put forth by the NHTSA have already moved towards the total elimination of manual controls.

New Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) rulemaking has begun that will see the requirement for a physical brake removed, but will require that autonomous vehicles maintain the same level of safety.

"The promise that these technologies offer, it's really undeniable," he said. "We want to see it succeed, we want to see it develop. That said, it needs to be done right."

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 9:03 AM.