The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposal to require the installation of a brake-throttle override (BTO) system on all new passenger cars and light trucks. The agency intends to update Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 124, Accelerator Control Systems, to address instances of unintended vehicle acceleration. The BTO system would be triggered when the gas pedal and brake are simultaneously applied, or when the accelerator control system is disconnected. The updated rule would not address instances in which the driver accidentally presses down on the accelerator rather than applying the brakes. Many new vehicles already have a BTO system. The NHTSA would provide two or three years for all light-duty vehicles to have the equipment once the rule is finalized.
Questions may be directed to Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.