Should Driverless Cars Lose the Steering Wheel? Regulators Weigh a Major Shift

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering a rule change that could let autonomous vehicles, especially robotaxis, hit the road without steering wheels. The idea: if a car is built to never be driven by a person, why force it to have manual controls? NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison told CNBC on July 9 that requiring such equipment for fully self-driving vehicles simply doesn’t make sense.

The proposal has sparked debate about safety and readiness. Critics argue that removing steering wheels too quickly could lead to dangerous situations if the technology fails or encounters unexpected conditions. Supporters, however, point out that current regulations were written for human drivers, not for machines that rely on sensors and software.

They say the move would clear the way for more efficient, space-saving vehicle designs and faster deployment of driverless services.

For now, NHTSA is gathering public input before making a final call. The agency stresses that any new rules would apply only to vehicles designed exclusively for autonomous operation, not to cars that can still be driven manually. As the technology races ahead, regulators are trying to balance innovation with public safety.

The outcome could reshape how we think about the very idea of a car.