Congress orders safety study on car touchscreens that distract drivers
H.R. 3360 — Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act of 2025 · Filed by Kevin Mullin (D-CA) · 4 cosponsors · Introduced May 13, 2025 · Markup held
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What it does
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to commission a study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examining how touchscreen-based vehicle controls affect driver distraction, injuries, and deaths—particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. The study will compare touchscreen systems to traditional physical controls and smartphones, and the DOT will report findings to Congress within 24 months and submit recommendations for federal action within 26 months.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to commission and publish independent research on vehicle safety, with no regulatory carve-outs or industry exemptions. It is a straightforward evidence-gathering mechanism designed to inform future policy.
What the text implies
- Study findings may pressure automakers to redesign infotainment systems, potentially increasing vehicle development costs and timelines.
- Recommendations could lead to federal safety standards that override state-level vehicle regulations, centralizing transportation safety authority.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (research contract); Automotive manufacturers (if study exonerates touchscreen systems or delays regulation)