Drive Wire: The NHTSA Revises Safety Standards

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Association is going to make it harder for automakers to score the five-star safety ratings that are so popular with consumers. They’re doing this by taking active collision-avoidance technology into consideration when awarding stars, so everything from blind-spot detection to automatic braking is on the table. The takeaway? It’s one more step on the road to self-driving cars, since a better safety rating for a car that can actively control itself is a powerful move in the direction of the autonomous automobile. Upping safety standards is not only good for the autonomous car industry, but it will drive all manufacturers to make a better car for the general public.