2,220 Reasons Your Next Car Should Brake for You

If one U.S. federal agency has its way, a self-braking system that prevents rear-end crashes will become as standard in American cars as seatbelts and airbags. The National Transportation Safety Board made this recommendation to safety officials and automakers alike in a new report detailing the benefits of collision avoidance technology. Here’s the head of the NTSB, via press release:

When it comes to driverless technology, it’s fair to say the federal government has assumed a backseat role. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has taken some initial steps toward mandated connected vehicle systems (think: cars that can converse to avoid collisions), and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx recently supported self-driving developments. In general, though, the type of strong oversight that might make autonomous safety features mandatory, as opposed to expensive add-ons, has been missing.