NHTSA Orders Autonomous Vehicle Companies to Fix Emergency Service Interference
NHTSA 命令自動駕駛車公司解決干擾緊急服務的問題
Introduction
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an official order requiring autonomous vehicle (AV) developers to fix systemic problems regarding how their vehicles interact with emergency responders.
美國國家公路交通安全管理局 (NHTSA) 已發布正式命令，要求自動駕駛車 (AV) 開發商解決車輛與緊急救援人員互動時的系統性問題。
Main Body
This directive was created because the NHTSA found a repeating pattern where driverless cars blocked emergency lanes or entered active accident scenes. Administrator Jonathan Morrison emphasized that the failure to recognize safety signals—such as flares, smoke, and flashing lights—is a serious technical flaw. Consequently, the agency has ordered developers to provide technical solutions by the end of this month.
之所以制定這項指令，是因為 NHTSA 發現了一個重複出現的模式，即無人駕駛車阻塞緊急車道或進入事故現場。局長 Jonathan Morrison 強調，未能識別安全信號（例如號誌彈煙、煙霧和閃光燈）是一個嚴重的技術缺陷。因此，該局已命令開發商在本月底前提供技術解決方案。
Although the NHTSA did not name specific companies, several reports link these issues to Waymo's operations. For example, there have been documented cases of vehicles blocking fire trucks in Dallas and police having to move AVs during high-priority emergencies. Furthermore, the NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating Waymo regarding a pedestrian accident in Santa Monica and safety violations involving school buses in Texas.
雖然 NHTSA 並未點名特定公司，但多份報告將這些問題與 Waymo 的營運聯繫在一起。例如，有記錄顯示在達拉斯有車輛阻塞消防車，且警方在處理高優先級緊急情況時必須移開自動駕駛車。此外，NHTSA 與國家交通安全委員會正就聖莫尼卡的一起行人事故以及德州涉及校車的安全違規行為調查 Waymo。
At the same time, the NHTSA is working with manufacturers to update the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). According to the 2026 Regulatory Plan, the agency wants to create new design standards for vehicles that do not have traditional controls, such as steering wheels and pedals. They are also proposing to remove old requirements, such as the need for sun visors and specific tire labels.
與此同時，NHTSA 正與製造商合作更新《聯邦汽車安全標準》(FMVSS)。根據 2026 年監管計劃，該局希望為沒有傳統控制裝置（例如方向盤和踏板）的車輛建立新的設計標準。他們也建議取消一些舊有要求，例如遮陽板和特定輪胎標籤的需求。
Conclusion
The NHTSA is now waiting for industry proposals to stop emergency service interference while it continues to modernize federal safety standards for new vehicle designs.
NHTSA 目前正等待業界提出防止干擾緊急服務的方案，同時繼續將聯邦安全標準現代化，以配合新的車輛設計。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 Moving from 'And' to 'Logic'
At the A2 level, we usually connect ideas with simple words like and, but, or because. To reach B2, you need to use Connectors of Result and Addition. These words make you sound more professional and organized.
🔍 The 'Power-Up' Words from the Text
Look at how the article connects these ideas:
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Consequently (A2 version: So)
- Example: "The cars blocked the road. Consequently, the agency ordered a fix."
- B2 Rule: Use this at the start of a sentence to show a direct result of a previous fact.
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Furthermore (A2 version: Also)
- Example: "They blocked fire trucks. Furthermore, they are being investigated for a pedestrian accident."
- B2 Rule: Use this when you are adding a stronger or more important point to your argument.
🛠️ The B2 Transformation
Compare these two ways of saying the same thing:
A2 Style (Simple): The cars don't see the lights and they block the road. So, the NHTSA is angry. Also, Waymo has other problems.
B2 Style (Advanced): The cars fail to recognize safety signals; consequently, they block emergency lanes. Furthermore, Waymo is facing investigations regarding other safety violations.
💡 Quick Pro-Tip
Notice that Consequently and Furthermore are usually followed by a comma ( , ). This small punctuation mark is a hallmark of B2 writing!