Safe Roads Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.3591 | Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. (D-GA)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Safe Roads Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement motor vehicle safety standards that (1) require certain truck-tractors with electronic stability control systems to be equipped with an automatic emergency braking system, (2) establish performance requirements for such braking systems, and (3) require such systems to be used while the truck-tractors are in operation.
DOT must also study and report on equipping commercial motor vehicles with automatic emergency braking to avoid or mitigate a collision with an obstacle in the path of the vehicle.

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 emergency 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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

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 
        systems 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 performance 
        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 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prescribe a regulation 
under section 31136 of title 49, United States Code, that requires an 
automatic emergency braking system installed in any truck-tractor 
subject to Federal motor vehicle 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 Representatives a report on the study described in 
        paragraph (1); and
            (3) if the Secretary determines it to be necessary, 
        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 system.--The term 
        ``automatic emergency braking system'' 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 
        vehicle--
                    (A) alerts the driver of the obstacle; and
                    (B) if necessary, to avoid or mitigate a collision 
                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 property 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.
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