Photo courtesy of Carson Blume and The White Line.

A new bill in Congress would utilize automatic emergency braking technology to detect bicyclists and prevent crashes. This month, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO) introduced the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act (H.R. 7353). The bill will make roads safer by ensuring new cars sold in the United States are equipped with automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems capable of detecting bicyclists, motorcyclists, and other vulnerable road users. AEB uses sensors to detect potential collisions and automatically apply the brakes if the driver has not already done so.

This legislation fills an important gap in automotive safety standards. In 2024, at the direction of Congress, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) required new cars to be equipped with AEB capable of detecting other vehicles and pedestrians. Unfortunately, NHTSA did not require those AEB systems to be capable of detecting people riding bikes, citing a lack of mature research on the performance of such systems in response to bicycles and motorcycles. While research remains ongoing, this bill will ensure that NHTSA carries out that work.

Importantly, this legislation strengthens existing work automakers are already doing. Europe has largely incorporated and required AEB systems to be installed in new vehicles for several years. In the U.S., 20 automakers fulfilled a voluntary industry commitment to equip their vehicles with AEB in 2023. Some individual automakers also utilize additional safety features. For example, after General Motors announced they had equipped 98% of 2023 models with AEB, they also announced that certain 2025 model year vehicles would be equipped with Side Bicyclist Alert, which warns drivers of nearby cyclists to prevent both crashes and dooring. Select models will also feature Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking to avoid or reduce the severity of collisions with bicyclists in certain scenarios. As another example, several automotive and engineering leaders, including Audi, Volkswagen, and Bosch Engineering, are active members of the Coalition for Cyclist Safety alongside bicycle industry leaders such as Trek, Specialized, SRAM, Shimano, Canyon, Spoke Safety, the League of America Bicyclists, and PeopleForBikes. The coalition focuses on improving road safety by integrating bicyclists into the growing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) safety ecosystem to help cars detect cyclists.

Why Automatic Emergency Braking Matters for Bicyclist Safety

The number one barrier to more people riding bikes is safety. In 2024, a record-high 1,166 bicyclists were killed on U.S. roadways. This number continues a startling trend: since 2010, bicyclist fatalities in the U.S. have risen by 87%. AEB is life-saving technology that has the potential to mitigate or prevent up to 26% of vehicle-bicycle crashes and 52% of fatal vehicle-bicyclist crashes.

Who Is Magnus White?

The Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act is named after Magnus White, a USA Cycling champion who was tragically killed while riding his bike outside of Boulder, Colorado. Magnus was on his last training ride before he was set to compete in the International Mountain Bike Championships in Scotland in 2023. He was only 17 years old.

After his death, Magnus’ family took action to ensure no family had to endure the same loss ever again. Jill and Michael White founded The White Line in 2023 with the mission to end road deaths and create safer streets for everyone. The organization has been instrumental in promoting federal and state legislation, including the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act.

What’s Next for the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act?

The Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act was introduced on February 4, 2026, and continues to build momentum. Just a few days later, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade voted to approve the bill, a major step forward. The bill is now being considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee for inclusion in the 2026 surface transportation reauthorization.

PeopleForBikes advocates on Capitol Hill for lawmakers to pass legislation that makes our nation’s streets safer for biking. The Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act is an important facet of our surface transportation reauthorization agenda. We have had many meetings with Congressional offices, advocacy organizations, and automakers to help advance this bill. This effort is being carried out alongside numerous partners who also support this legislation, including The White Line, the League of American Bicyclists, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and others.

How You Can Help Pass the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act

Contact your members of Congress and encourage them to support the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act. The White Line has put together this helpful tool to easily contact your representatives in Congress. If you have further questions, please reach out to PeopleForBikes Director of Federal Policy Chris Bell at chris@peopleforbikes.org.