Congress·In Committee·S. 3536

Congress targets automated driving safety, requiring systems stay within declared safe-use limits

Stay in Your Lane Act

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

Automated driving system makers would have to set clear limits for where and when their system can safely be used (like certain roads, weather, or times of day).
Companies would have to make sure their automated driving system does not run outside those limits—for example, not letting it operate in conditions it wasn’t designed for.
Manufacturers would have to send their “safe-use limits” description to the national auto safety agency and also post the exact same statement on a public website.
If a company lets its system operate outside its stated safe-use limits, it could face civil penalties under federal auto safety law.
The requirements would start 180 days after the bill becomes law.

TransportationTechnologyConsumer Protection

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(2)

Disability Benefits

Neutral

Physical Disability

Neutral

Positive Impacts(2)

Housing Assistance

Helps

Chronic Illness

Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Dec 17, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Dec 17, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

180 days after the bill becomes law

Manufacturers must ensure automation systems do not operate outside the conditions the maker says are safe.

Some automated features may start disengaging more often in situations the maker labels as outside the safe zone (like certain roads, bad weather, or night driving), which could change how your car behaves.

180 days after the bill becomes law (or as systems are offered)

Manufacturers submit an “operational design domain” declaration to NHTSA and post the exact same declaration on a public website.

You should be able to look up, in plain company language, where a system is designed to work safely (for example: highway-only, clear weather-only, specific speed ranges). This can help shoppers compare vehicles and set expectations.

After the 180-day effective date, as cases arise

NHTSA can enforce the new requirement using civil penalties when manufacturers let systems operate outside their stated safe conditions.

Companies face real financial consequences if their systems keep operating when they shouldn’t, which can push faster fixes through software updates, recalls, or tighter system limits.