If the parking brake is not set, Honda says the vehicle might roll away and a crash could occur.

FORBES: Honda's Latest Recall: 800,000 SUVs and Minivans With Faulty Ignition Switches

This is another of those hand-brake turns from the Bush route to the new course set by Obama.

BBC: Obama diary: Days 81-90

Some car insurers, such as Progressive Insurance in the US, already use sensors that report back on how abruptly drivers brake or whether they are heavy on the accelerator to help it set insurance premiums.

CNN: US carmakers to offer mobile connection