The Trump administration's Department of Transportation has proposed a new rule that could see brake pedals become optional in fully autonomous vehicles. This move, which would remove major regulatory hurdles for innovators like Tesla and Zoox, suggests we may soon be driving without the need to touch anything but an emergency stop button.

Under this proposal, companies can bypass federal safety standards for windshield wipers and even tire placards too. President Biden's administration also pushed similar changes, allowing autonomous vehicles to hit the road without steering wheels. But what does this mean for our collective braking habits?

Tesla has already been testing its pedal-free Cybercab in Austin with safety drivers removed. Meanwhile, Zoox, owned by Amazon, has received exemptions to demonstrate and potentially commercialize their robots on the streets.

While quicker deployment of autonomous vehicles could revolutionize transportation, critics argue this move undermines decades of safety regulations. The DOT says it's about embracing innovation but some see it as a step towards less control for drivers – or perhaps just less touching overall?