DETROIT — Nearly 43,000 people were killed on U.S. roads last year, the highest number in 16 years as Americans returned to the highways after the pandemic forced many to stay at home.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to continue gathering data for its crash-avoidance field study that is seeking comments from commercial motor carrier drivers about their beliefs and attitudes toward safety technologies.

DETROIT — U.S. safety regulators have opened an investigation into electric and hybrid vehicle batteries after five automakers issued recalls due to possible defects that could cause fires or stalling.

The Biden administration ordered carmakers to increase their average fuel economy to about 49 mpg by 2026, in an ambitious effort to make up for progress stalled when President Donald Trump rolled back the efficiency program.

A new report on 2020 crash data shows that despite fewer miles traveled during the first year of the pandemic, 38,824 lives were lost in overall traffic crashes. That's a 6.8% increase and the highest number since 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating complaints of Tesla Inc. cars with Autopilot driver assist that suddenly brake at high speeds, the latest in a string of confrontations between the company and safety regulators.

President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was easily approved by a U.S. Senate committee on Feb. 2.

Federal programs aimed at improving safety along the country’s highways will receive a boost in funding, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently indicated.

An estimated 20,160 people died in motor vehicle crashes on U.S. roadways in the first half of 2021, up 18.4% over 2020, according to an “early estimates” report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Elon Musk and thousands of Tesla Inc.’s die-hard fans and customers are in an uproar about NHTSA’s new pick as its senior safety adviser.