US Drops Plans to Require Brake-Throttle Override Systems

May 14, 2019—The Trump administration said Monday it will drop rules first proposed in 2012 that would have required automakers to install brake-throttle override systems to prevent runaway vehicles, reported Reuters.

Brake throttle override systems work by the vehicle software cutting power to the throttle if both pedals are depressed.

The regulation was proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in response to a series of unintended sudden acceleration incidents in Toyota Motor Corp vehicles. It would have required that all motor vehicles’ brakes be able to override the accelerator pedal.

 NHTSA said all automakers have voluntarily installed brake throttle override systems on all new vehicles and the agency does not anticipate any automakers removing the system.

Toyota recalled more than 10 million vehicles worldwide because of unintended acceleration issues in 2009 and 2010.