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The White House wants you to know that the era of self-driving cars is closer than you might expect. And the federal government is preparing to roll out the rules of the road that officials say are needed to make sure automated vehicles are safe, accessible and efficient. And if done properly, they say the new vehicles will save time, money and lives.

They also say they want to avoid a "patchwork" of regulations that differ from state to state.

"Self-driving cars have remarkable potential to make a significant dent in the $160 billion worth of time and gas that Americans lose stuck in traffic every year, and the hundreds of hours each American spends each year driving," said Jeff Zients, the director of the National Economic Council, in a briefing for reporters.

"So we're envisioning a future when you can take your hands off the wheel and the wheel out of the car and where your commute becomes productive or restful rather than frustrating or exhausting," he said.

On Tuesday, the Department of Transportation will issue its Federal Automated Vehicle Policy. It has four main components:

Transportation officials say they will unveil a sweeping plan to make sure the federal government is involved in ensuring the safety of self-driving vehicles.

Feds to set rules on self-driving vehicles

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