I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3591 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe a motor vehicle safety 
standard that requires new commercial motor vehicles to be equipped 
with an automatic emergency braking system, to require automatic emer-
gency braking installed in commercial motor vehicles to be used while 
in operation, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 28, 2021 
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia (for himself, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Mr. COHEN, 
and Mr. BERGMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe a 
motor vehicle safety standard that requires new commer-
cial motor vehicles to be equipped with an automatic 
emergency braking system, to require automatic emer-
gency braking installed in commercial motor vehicles to 
be used while in operation, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:30 Jun 24, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3591.IH
H3591
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safe Roads Act of 
2021’’. 
SEC. 2. MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD. 
(a) MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD FOR TRUCK 
TRACTORS WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Secretary of Transportation shall— 
(1) prescribe a motor vehicle safety standard 
under section 30111 of title 49, United States Code, 
that requires any truck-tractor subject to Federal 
motor vehicle safety standard 136 (49 C.F.R. 
571.136; relating to electronic stability control sys-
tems for heavy vehicles) that is manufactured after 
the effective date of the standard to be equipped 
with an automatic emergency braking system; and 
(2) include standards that establish the per-
formance requirements for automatic emergency 
braking systems. 
(b) FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATION 
FOR TRUCK TRACTORS WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY 
CONTROL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this section, the Secretary shall prescribe a regu-
lation under section 31136 of title 49, United States Code, 
that requires an automatic emergency braking system in-
stalled in any truck-tractor subject to Federal motor vehi-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:30 Jun 24, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3591.IH
H3591
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
cle safety standard 136 (49 C.F.R. 571.136; relating to 
electronic stability control systems for heavy vehicles) in 
operation on or after the effective date to be used at any 
time during which the truck-tractor is in operation. 
(c) REPORT ON AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING 
IN MEDIUM COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES.—Not later 
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, 
the Secretary shall— 
(1) complete a study on equipping commercial 
motor vehicles with automatic emergency braking to 
avoid or mitigate a collision with an obstacle in the 
path of the vehicle; 
(2) submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure 
and Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the study described in para-
graph (1); and 
(3) if the Secretary determines it to be nec-
essary, initiate a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard for automatic emergency braking for all 
commercial motor vehicles, if appropriate. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AUTOMATIC
EMERGENCY
BRAKING
SYS-
TEM.—The term ‘‘automatic emergency braking sys-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:30 Jun 24, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3591.IH
H3591
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
tem’’ means a system on a commercial motor vehicle 
that, based on a predefined distance and closing rate 
with respect to an obstacle in the path of the vehi-
cle— 
(A) alerts the driver of the obstacle; and 
(B) if necessary, to avoid or mitigate a col-
lision with the obstacle, automatically applies 
the brakes of the vehicle. 
(2) COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term 
‘‘commercial motor vehicle’’ means a motor vehicle 
or truck-tractor used in commerce to transport prop-
erty that has a gross vehicle weight rating or a gross 
vehicle weight of not less than 10,001 pounds. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:30 Jun 24, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3591.IH
H3591
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS