Gov't adds emergency brake features to safety device list

DETROIT (AP) - The U.S. government's auto safety agency wants to add two automatic emergency braking devices to its list of recommended safety features for new-car buyers.

But it's unclear when or if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will require automakers to put the devices on all new vehicles.

The agency plans to add crash-imminent braking and dynamic brake support to its recommendations. Crash-imminent braking automatically stops a car if sensors detect a possible crash, while dynamic braking adds force to the brakes if the driver isn't pressing hard enough to avoid a crash.

The agency will decide later if the features should go on window stickers that show government safety ratings. A start date for the recommendations will come after public comment.

The proposed changes were announced Thursday in Washington.