As a new year is about to begin, many of us are thinking about the future. So is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Federal regulators have issued a new rule affecting the development of autonomous vehicles. NHTSA is streamlining the process manufacturers must face in order to test new technology. The federal safety standards currently in place require a human driver and were developed before the idea of self-driving cars was near becoming a reality. The technology is advancing so rapidly, that federal regulators are responding. Their review process is still in place, but this adjusts the process, so the public can comment quicker.