Feds Direct Autonomous Vehicle Companies to Cease Disrupting First Responders

Jonathan Morrison, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), recently issued a directive to autonomous vehicle (AV) developers, stressing that their vehicles should not disrupt the activities of first responders or law enforcement.

In his communication, Morrison noted that the agency has “identified a troubling trend of driverless AVs hindering law enforcement and first responders,” citing incidents where these vehicles have entered active emergency zones, obstructed ambulances and firefighters, or failed to react suitably to vital safety signals such as flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire, and traffic cones.

The agency has asked AV developers to provide their “solutions” to this issue by the end of the month.

“It is imperative to clarify: the failure to detect and respond appropriately to such circumstances signifies a functional gap,” the letter asserts. “Emergency situations are not rare or extreme ‘edge cases.’ Therefore, NHTSA is urgently calling for AV developers and operators to prioritize finding solutions to this problem.”

While the letter does not mention any specific companies, the emphasis suggests a particular focus on robotaxi operators like Waymo.

TechCrunch has reached out to Waymo for a comment and will update the article when a response is received from the company.

A previous investigation by TechCrunch revealed that Waymo— which runs the largest robotaxi fleet in the U.S. across cities such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco— has faced several incidents involving first responders. In at least six documented cases prior to March of this year, first responders had to take control of Waymo vehicles to clear them from roadways during emergencies. One incident occurred while an officer was responding to a mass shooting, while another showed an officer moving a Waymo vehicle to allow access for responders dealing with a natural gas explosion at an apartment complex.

The letter to AV developers does not clarify the consequences for disregarding the request, nor does it outline what would be deemed acceptable solutions. However, it suggests that the agency will hold companies accountable in a manner similar to how it addresses human drivers who impede law enforcement.

“Every second matters when law enforcement officers, firefighters, or paramedics are responding to emergencies where lives are in jeopardy,” the letter underlines. “This is why human drivers who obstruct these operations face penalties and potential incarceration.”

Furthermore, the agency stated in a press release accompanying the letter that it is moving forward with efforts to revise Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) regulations, which dictate vehicle design and equipment requirements. Proposed changes could benefit autonomous vehicle companies such as Tesla and Zoox, which are developing vehicles lacking traditional features like steering wheels and pedals. The agency has suggested rules to remove the necessity for windshield wipers, sun visors, defogging systems, and tire placards. Last week, the agency published a new 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda outlining its proposals.