Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act of 2025

This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to study how driver-controlled technology in motor vehicles affects severe traffic injuries and fatalities, including those of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users, and to report findings and recommendations to Congress.

Sec. 2, Driver-controlled technology safety study: The Secretary must seek an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine within 3 months to study the effect of driver-controlled technology on severe traffic injuries and fatalities. The study period will be determined by the Secretary but must start no later than 10 years before the agreement. The study must address touch screen-based systems, driver distraction, comparisons with smartphone use, and the impact of time of day and road conditions.

Sec. 3, Report and recommendations: Within 24 months of the agreement, the Secretary must submit a report of the study findings to Congress and publish it online. Within 2 months after that, the Secretary must submit recommendations to reduce severe traffic injuries and fatalities and to improve data collection on touch screen and smartphone use while driving. Recommendations must be divided into those implementable under existing federal authority and those requiring new federal law.

Sec. 4, Definitions: Defines key terms including "commercial motor vehicle," "driver-controlled technology" (controls engaged at the driver's option, including touch screens but not default systems like automatic braking), "motor vehicle" (passenger motor vehicles), "tactile motor vehicle control" (physical controls like knobs and switches), and "touch screen-based system" (an in-vehicle computer with a touch screen primary interface).

Sec. 5, Rules of construction: The Act does not prevent or delay any required or authorized regulations. If a term is found ambiguous, courts must defer to a reasonable interpretation by the Secretary of Transportation.