Automated Driving Systems, or ADS, perform the driving task at higher automation levels. NHTSA’s 2026 report to Congress summarized ongoing research and rulemaking for ADS-equipped vehicles, and the agency has been working on how federal standards should apply to vehicles that may not have traditional driver controls. The debate is how to balance faster deployment, safety evidence, state and local control, crash reporting, cybersecurity, and accessibility benefits. Driverless cars might reduce some crashes someday, but “someday” is not enough. If these vehicles are on public roads now, the public deserves clear proof, reporting, and accountability.