S. 2290: Collision Avoidance Systems Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Collision Avoidance Systems Act of 2025, proposes to update regulations regarding the use of pulsating light systems on high-mounted stop lamps in vehicles. Below is a summary of its key provisions:

Definitions

The bill introduces two primary definitions:

• Pulsating Light System: This system would cause the high-mounted stop lamp to flash rapidly (up to four times) for a maximum of 1.2 seconds when the vehicle's brakes are applied. After this initial pulsing, the light would then remain continuously lit as a standard brake light until the brakes are released. There is also a mandatory lock-out period of at least five seconds before the pulsing can occur again after the brakes are released.
• Standard 108: This refers to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 108, which is a set of regulations regarding vehicle lighting and reflectors.

Clarification on Pulsating Light Systems

Once the bill is enacted, Standard 108 will explicitly permit the use of pulsating light systems on vehicles that fall under this regulatory standard.

Rulemaking Requirements

The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to develop new regulations related to pulsating light systems within 180 days of its enactment. These regulations will:

• Establish performance-based standards for pulsating light systems.
• Explicitly allow the use of these systems on vehicles that are covered by Standard 108.

Implementation Timeline

The bill sets a timeline for when these changes should take effect, ensuring that the necessary updates to Standard 108 and the introduction of relevant regulations occur in a timely manner.

Purpose of the Bill

The main goal of this legislation is to enhance safety features in vehicles by allowing advanced lighting systems that could potentially reduce the incidence of rear-end collisions.

Relevant Companies

• GM (General Motors Company): As a major automotive manufacturer, changes in lighting regulation could influence the design of their vehicles' braking systems.
• F (Ford Motor Company): Similarly, Ford may need to adapt their vehicles to comply with the new pulsing light system requirements.
• TSLA (Tesla, Inc.): Tesla could see design implications for their cars, particularly regarding safety features as they frequently integrate new technology rapidly.