South Korean automaker Hyundai has announced that all of its models will come standard with brake override systems, beginning this month.
In the wake of the Toyota recall investigation, the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) looked into ways to ensure the situation never occurred again. Toyota was ultimately found not to be at fault in the incidents of unintended acceleration. Instead, investigators found that drivers had accidentally hit the brakes and accelerator at the same time, unintentionally causing their cars to speed up.
Now, the NHTSA wants all automakers to install brake override systems, reports Autoblog. These systems ensure that a car will slow down if the brake and gas are pressed at the same time. Many models already have this feature, but the NHTSA wants all vehicles on the road to use the system.
While the NHTSA continues to deliberate on the issue, Hyundai has decided to implement the system before the official mandate, getting the jump on many other automakers when it comes to installing the new overrides.
Drivers who want to stay safe on the road should be sure to keep up with their scheduled brake service. Worn brakes can lead to less responsiveness when attempting to slow down, increasing a driver's risk of an accident.