Federal Authorities Call for Autonomous Vehicle Firms to Halt Obstruction of Emergency Services

On Wednesday, Jonathan Morrison, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), issued a warning to developers of autonomous vehicles (AVs), emphasizing that their vehicles must not obstruct first responders or law enforcement officials.

In his letter, Morrison indicated that the agency has observed a troubling trend of driverless AVs interfering with emergency services, detailing incidents where these vehicles entered active emergency situations, blocked ambulances and fire trucks, or failed to recognize important safety signals such as flashing lights, smoke, or flares.

The NHTSA has requested that AV developers submit their approaches to resolving these issues by the end of the month.

Morrison stated, “Let me be clear: the inability to identify and appropriately react to these situations signifies a functional inadequacy.” He added that emergency situations are not uncommon or rare. The NHTSA is thus calling on AV developers and operators to prioritize addressing this problem.

Although the letter does not mention any specific company by name, it appears to target operators of autonomous ride-sharing services, such as Waymo.

TechCrunch has reached out to Waymo for a statement and will update the report upon receiving a response.

An earlier investigation by TechCrunch revealed that Waymo, which operates the largest fleet of robotaxis in the U.S. across cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco, has faced multiple incidents involving first responders. In at least six cases noted by TechCrunch up until March, first responders had to take charge of Waymo vehicles to remove them from traffic during emergencies, including a situation where an officer was responding to a mass shooting and another in June where an officer moved a Waymo vehicle to clear the way for emergency personnel attending to a gas explosion.

The letter does not specify what might happen if developers disregard the request, nor does it define what would constitute an acceptable solution. However, it suggests that the agency will hold companies responsible, similar to how they treat human drivers who hinder law enforcement operations.

“Every second is crucial when law enforcement, firefighters, or paramedics are responding to emergencies where lives are at stake,” the letter warns. “This is why human drivers who interfere with these operations face fines and potential jail time.”

Furthermore, the agency mentioned in a related press release that it is actively working on revising the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which dictate vehicle design and required equipment. These forthcoming changes may aid autonomous vehicle manufacturers like Tesla and Zoox, who are creating vehicles without traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals. The NHTSA has proposed rules to exclude requirements for items such as windshield wipers, sun visors, and tire placards. Last week, the agency unveiled its new 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda detailing these proposals.