Are Autonomous Cars Safer? New Guidelines Probably Won’t Tell Us

The introduction of autonomous features on cars has at its core a laudable goal: saving lives. But so far, there is a lack of independent data to judge whether the technology is working.

The federal agency charged with reducing injuries and fatalities on the road has taken steps to try to change that, encouraging states to include information on automated-driving technology in traffic-collision reports. However, the new guidelines from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aren’t likely to solve the problem of a dearth of data anytime soon.