New cars no longer need to protect drivers from steering wheel impact in frontal crashes

US auto safety regulators are proposing to remove a rule that requires steering wheels to move away from drivers in frontal crashes. This change applies to vehicles that already meet a newer, more comprehensive frontal crash protection standard.

For decades, cars had to meet a specific standard to prevent the steering wheel from hitting the driver in a crash. Now, if a car meets a broader safety standard, it no longer needs to meet the specific steering wheel rule. This means car manufacturers have one less specific design constraint to worry about, as long as their overall frontal crash protection is certified.