STOP Frontovers Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4936
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T05:08:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation directs the Secretary of Transportation to create a new Federal motor vehicle safety standard aimed at reducing deaths and injuries from low-speed forward-moving incidents (frontovers) and similar events. It also updates data collection on these incidents.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Establishes terms such as "frontover" (a low-speed forward strike in a driver's blind spot), "backover" (a low-speed reverse strike), and references existing definitions for motor vehicles and the Secretary.
- Rulemaking requirement: Within one year of enactment, the Secretary must start a rulemaking under existing authority to set performance standards that minimize risks from frontovers and other low-speed incidents.
- Standard requirements: The standard must include a direct visibility rule, systems to detect people (including children), vehicles, cyclists, and other objects in blind zones, a driver notification system, an active intervention system to help prevent collisions, and combined auditory/visual/haptic alerts.
- Timeline and compliance: Final rule due within one year of starting rulemaking; full compliance required within two years after the final rule, with possible phased implementation based on vehicle type and incident data.
- Reporting: If delayed, the Secretary must submit progress reports to Congress every 90 days after the first two years.
- Amendment to existing law: Adds a requirement for a final rule within two years mandating crash avoidance technologies in all new passenger vehicles.
- Data updates: Requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Non-Traffic Surveillance System to track frontovers and backovers, with options for additional state-level reporting improvements.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill adds new performance mandates for low-speed forward incidents to the framework in title 49 of the U.S. Code. It amends section 30129 to set a specific compliance deadline for crash avoidance features and expands data collection under the Non-Traffic Surveillance System.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Requires the Department of Transportation to develop, issue, and enforce a new safety standard, including ongoing reporting to Congress.
- Citizens: Aims to lower risks of injury or death for children, pedestrians, cyclists, and others near vehicles at low speeds.
- Manufacturers: Mandates new detection, notification, and intervention technologies in vehicles, with possible phased rollout by vehicle type.
- No direct effects on international relations are specified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (rulemaking and enforcement).
- Motor vehicle manufacturers (compliance with new standards).
- Drivers and vehicle owners (new safety features and alerts).
- Vulnerable road users, including children, pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, and pets (improved protection).
- Congress (oversight through required reports).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill builds on existing motor vehicle safety authority without creating new regulatory bodies. It emphasizes data-driven phase-ins and includes mandatory congressional reporting for delays, which adds procedural oversight. No constitutional issues are addressed in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Standards To Prevent Frontovers Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (8 pages)