We call on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to modernize their language to reflect the current moment in transportation history as software has become of greater importance to vehicle and public safety.

NHTSA's recall language does not adequately differentiate between recalls that require a physical repair versus those that can be resolved with a software update.

Replacing a physical part requires car owners to take their car into a dealership for a recall can be a major inconvenience. Many software updates can be done automatically, with no action needed by car owners.

This change is simply better communication with the public and media. Such a change will lead to more efficient and effective recall campaigns, ultimately making our roads safer for everyone and save lives.

We urge NHTSA to update their recall language in easy to understand ways. A simple change to the labels you use to "Hardware Recall" or "Software Update" would better communicate with the public and media and make it easier to understand the nature of a recall - and improve compliance.

Acting now is important because software has already has a more significant role in public safety of transportation than any time in history and NHTSA is treating it the same as a physical defect.