WASHINGTON — Raising hopes of preventing many collisions, transportation officials say they'll propose requiring that automakers equip new cars and light trucks with technology that lets vehicles communicate with each other,

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said Monday the technology holds the potential to significantly reduce crashes, injuries and deaths on the nation's streets and highways.

A radio transponder would continually transmit a vehicle's position, heading, speed and other information. Cars would receive the same information back from other vehicles, and a vehicle's computer would alert the driver to an impending collision.

The government will issue a report later this month outlining its research on the new systems, and will issue its proposed rule before the end of the Obama administration.