American cars and trucks could soon be forced to brake for you in an emergency
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All new cars and trucks sold in the US may soon be equipped with automatic emergency braking systems designed to prevent collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians, according to a rule proposed Wednesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States. Department of Transportation Highways.
If adopted as proposed, nearly all US light-duty vehicles (GVWR 10,000 pounds or less) will be required to have AEB technology three years after a final rule is published. Low the proposalthe AEB system would have to be able to stop and avoid contact with a vehicle at speeds up to 62 miles per hour, according to NHTSA Senior Counsel Ann Carlson.
The DOT said the proposed rule is a key part of a national strategy the agency launched in January 2022 that aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries from motor vehicle crashes.
Consumer safety advocates, who have long pushed for such a rule, agree.
“This strict rule would save lives, prevent costly accidents and dramatically raise the level of safety on our highways,” William Wallace, Consumer Reports associate director of safety policy, said in a statement. “It is desperately needed at a time when more than 100 people in the US are killed in car crashes every day. This has been a long time coming, and has been called for by car safety advocates for years, but this proposal meets the moment. ”
Automatic Emergency Braking Systems, or AEBs, are available in many modern vehicles today. Some vehicles come standard with AEB, while others require the customer to pay for the safety feature. The system uses sensors and software to detect when a vehicle is about to crash and then automatically applies the brakes if the driver hasn’t already. Even if the driver has applied the brakes, the system will step in and apply more force.
Industry and government officials agreed in 2016 to make AEB standard on dozens of models. Toyota, and its luxury brand Lexus, they were leaders in this effort. But the technology is not yet widespread. Consumer Reports has seen an increase in the number of vehicles offering the technology, but Wallace said, “Federal requirements would ensure that every new car comes with this proven safety feature, without forcing consumers to pay more for a package.” of expensive options”.
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