Congress Split Over Self-Driving Safety

Silicon Valley executives pushed Congress to override state regulations and fast-track autonomous vehicle deployment despite ongoing federal investigations into incidents where self-driving cars struck children and violated school bus safety laws.

Story Snapshot

Waymo and Tesla executives testified before Senate committee on February 4, 2026, defending self-driving safety amid federal probes into crashes involving children
Companies demand national regulatory framework to replace state-by-state laws, citing Chinese competition as justification for rapid deployment
Republican senators support innovation-focused approach while Democrats push transparency requirements and operational limits
Federal investigation continues into 19+ Waymo incidents where vehicles illegally passed stopped school buses in Austin, Texas

Tech Giants Defend Safety Record Amid Active Federal Probes

Waymo Chief Safety Officer Mauricio Peña and Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy appeared before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation defending their autonomous vehicle programs despite ongoing NHTSA investigations. The hearing titled “Hit the Road, Mac: The Future of Self-Driving Cars” came after federal regulators opened probes into Waymo following over 19 incidents where vehicles passed stopped school buses with extended stop signs. Just days before the hearing, a Waymo vehicle struck a student in Santa Monica, California, though company officials claimed their braking response outperformed human capabilities.

Industry Push for Federal Override of State Authority

Both companies urged Congress to establish a unified national regulatory framework to replace the current patchwork of state laws governing autonomous vehicles. Approximately 25 states have implemented their own AV regulations, creating what industry representatives characterize as barriers to scaling operations nationwide. Peña warned that without federal action, Chinese competitors would dominate the autonomous vehicle market globally. This represents a familiar pattern where tech companies facing state-level scrutiny seek federal intervention to circumvent local accountability. The push mirrors past efforts by big tech to override state consumer protection laws under the guise of innovation.

Partisan Divide on Safety Standards and Transparency

Committee Chairman Ted Cruz advocated for an evidence-based national framework emphasizing innovation and liability clarity, viewing autonomous vehicles as tools to reduce the 40,000 annual U.S. traffic fatalities and provide mobility for disabled Americans. Meanwhile, Ranking Member Maria Cantwell warned against “beta testing without guardrails,” demanding crash prevention prioritization. Senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal co-sponsored the “Stay in Your Lane Act” imposing operational limits and pushed the AV Safety Data Act requiring transparent reporting. This split reveals the fundamental question: should American families serve as test subjects for untested technology, or should companies prove safety before nationwide deployment?

Track Record Raises Accountability Concerns

Despite executive assurances, the evidence demands scrutiny. Waymo issued a software update in November 2025 specifically to address bus-yield issues, yet violations continued into early 2026. NHTSA data suggests Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system may demonstrate higher crash rates than human drivers, though Tesla accepted liability for software failures during testimony. The Santa Monica incident involving a child occurred in “edge cases” that supposedly sophisticated AI should handle better than the average scenario. With 400,000 weekly Waymo robotaxi trips now operating, the scale of potential harm grows exponentially if these systems fail. Americans deserve answers before corporations gain immunity through federal preemption of stricter state standards that protect local communities and schoolchildren.

Constitutional and Common Sense Questions Remain Unanswered

Senator Eric Schmitt rightfully raised concerns about safety and privacy implications that the public needs to understand before mass adoption. The rush to federal legislation raises federalism concerns about whether Washington should override states’ traditional authority to regulate vehicle safety within their borders. Labor organizations warned that worker protections must be addressed as autonomous vehicles threaten transportation jobs. The geopolitical argument about Chinese competition, while valid, should not stampede Congress into abandoning careful oversight. True American innovation thrives under accountability, not through regulatory shortcuts that put profits before the safety of our children waiting at school bus stops.