is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. The US Department of Transportation wants to make it easier for automakers and tech companies to deploy self-driving cars without traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals. In a letter sent to stakeholders, the department said it would streamline reviews of requests for exemptions from safety rules requiring vehicles to have steering wheels, pedals, and mirrors — parts that purpose-built autonomous vehicles often lack. This isn’t the first time the government has signaled a willingness to make it easier to deploy fully autonomous vehicles. Last year, the Biden administration announced a more streamlined “exemption pathway” for vehicles with automated driving systems.