Analysts said Monday’s release of federal guidelines for automated (driverless) vehicles was a signal that the U.S. government strongly backs the development of such cars. The Department of Transportation’s guidelines focused on four main items:

• A 15-point safety standard.
• A requirement that states develop uniform policies.
• Clarification about current regulations that will apply to driverless vehicles.
• The potential for future regulations as the technology matures.

Bryan Thomas, spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said the regulations were left “intentionally vague” so technology developers would feel free to continue developing without onerous regulations over their heads.

Learn more about the regulations and what’s being said here.