Posts by Madi Hawkins

FTC Explores Proposing Regulations on Data Privacy The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced today that they are exploring rules to crack down on commercial surveillance and lax data security. The agency released today an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on the harms stemming from commercial surveillance and whether new rules are needed…

Budget Reconciliation Bill Includes Transportation Priorities U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have come to an agreement on a $700 billion reconciliation package, titled the Inflation Reduction Act, that includes provisions on tax, healthcare, energy, and climate. The bill also includes billions in transportation funding. Notably, the Senators reached…

Sen. Markey Sends Letter to Auto CEOs on Vehicle Keyless Entry Systems U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) sent a letter this week to all major automaker CEOs requesting information on the security of vehicle keyless entry systems. In the letter, Markey cited statistics that indicate vehicle theft has experienced a sharp increase in recent years…

IIHS Releases Study on Drugged Driving and Traffic Crashes The Insurance Institute on Traffic Safety recently released a study entitled “Changes in Traffic Crash Rates After Legalization of Marijuana: Results by Crash Severity”. The study found that states that legalized marijuana also experienced a rise in car crashes that injured or killed people. In the…

Pennsylvania SB 965 Passes in Committee: Bill Would Allow AV Testing Without a Driver in the Vehicle Pennsylvania Senate Bill 965 passed the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday in a vote of 11-3. This legislation would allow autonomous vehicles to be tested in Pennsylvania without a human driver present in the vehicle. To read this legislation,…

Pennsylvania Autonomous Vehicle Legislation Scheduled for Committee Vote Pennsylvania Senate Bill 965 (PA SB 965) is scheduled for a vote today in the Senate Transportation Committee. This legislation would allow autonomous vehicles in Pennsylvania to conduct testing without a human driver in the vehicle. Pennsylvania is already a hub for autonomous vehicle development, and this…

National Safety Council Releases Report on the Future of Mobility The National Safety Council (NSC) released the “Mobility, Technology, and Safety: The Next 20 Years” report this week. This report evaluates the potential evolution of transportation technologies over the next 20 years. The report evaluates the history of transportation over the last two decades, including…

Transportation Non-Profit Releases Report on Traffic Fatalities TRIP, a National Transportation Research Non-Profit, recently released a report entitled “Addressing America’s Traffic Safety Crisis: Examining the Causes of Increasing U.S. Traffic Fatalities and Identifying Solutions to Improve Road User Safety.” This report documents the increase in traffic fatalities and fatality rates from 2019 to 2021 at…

Federal Trade Commission Takes Action Against Harley Davidson on Right to Repair The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking action against Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Westinghouse outdoor generator manufacturer MWE Investments, LLC for illegally restricting consumers’ right to repair their purchased products. The FTC released an order today in response to a complaint alleging that…

IIHS Releases Report on Safety Potential of Crash Avoidance Technology The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently released a report entitled “Safety potential of crash avoidance features, improved headlights, and V2V-enhanced technologies for older drivers”. This report highlights the fact that crash-reduction technology, such as intersection assistance, automatic emergency braking, and improved headlights have…