That would require a complete revamp of US law and culture. As it is now, you are not a criminal if you stop paying attention and run someone over. Your actions have to rise to a much higher level of wanton criminality before you are ever at risk of a criminal charge. People kill people on sidewalks, in cross-walks, in their living-rooms (!!!) and face nothing more than a $1000 fine for failure to yield.
This kind of change isn't impossible. Drunk driving was once in this same category -- I.e. considered an unfortunate accident rather than a crime. Then Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) ran a 30 year campaign to change the law, change enforcement, change prosecution, and finally (partially) the culture.
But I guarantee the NHTSA has neither the mandate nor the capacity to lead that change.
This kind of change isn't impossible. Drunk driving was once in this same category -- I.e. considered an unfortunate accident rather than a crime. Then Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) ran a 30 year campaign to change the law, change enforcement, change prosecution, and finally (partially) the culture.
But I guarantee the NHTSA has neither the mandate nor the capacity to lead that change.