February 10, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, February 10, Congresswoman Clarke released a statement celebrating the passage of her legislation, the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act of 2026, in the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade markup by voice vote.
“Tragedies like the loss of Magnus White should not have happened, and Congress has a moral responsibility to work towards a future where they never do again. Today, we are closer than ever before to fulfilling our essential obligation. This victory represents a remarkable step forward for families like the Whites who know the heart wrenching pain of a preventable accident taking their loved one, as well as for the countless other families who are now that much closer to the assurance of safety and security every American deserves in the presence of motor vehicles. I am heartened to have had Jill and Michael with us to mark this tremendous moment, and I look forward to continuing this moral work at their side until the bill that bears their son’s name becomes the law of the land.”
This bill, named the Magnus White Cyclist Safety Act of 2025, directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish comprehensive safety standards for automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems in new vehicles within 3 years of enactment. The bill requires AEB systems in covered vehicles (passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks weighing up to 10,000 pounds) to function effectively in various light conditions and detect vulnerable road users, including bicyclists, motorcyclists, and other cyclists, across all skin tones and clothing types. The Secretary must set a compliance deadline no later than 2 model years after issuing the final rule. Key definitions are provided, including clarifying what constitutes a vulnerable road user and specifying the types of vehicles covered. The goal is to enhance safety for cyclists and other vulnerable road users by ensuring that vehicle emergency braking systems can reliably detect and respond to potential collisions, regardless of lighting conditions or the appearance of the person using the road.
Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Joe Neguse (CO-02) introduced the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act of 2026 earlier this month, legislation that would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to amend the current motor vehicle standard for automated emergency braking systems to ensure these systems can detect cyclists and other vulnerable road users regardless of clothing color or skin tone in both day and night and at the speeds NHTSA has previously determined in the existing AEB rule. This bill represents a critical step toward safer streets, fewer fatalities, and a transportation system that works for everyone.
Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
