The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced a proposed rule that would require automatic emergency braking (AEB) and pedestrian AEB systems on passenger cars and light trucks.
“We’ve seen the benefits of the AEB system in some passenger vehicles already even at lower speeds, and we want to expand the use of the technology to save even more lives,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Ann Carlson said. “That’s why our proposed rule would require all cars to be able to stop and avoid contact with a vehicle in front of them up to 62 miles per hour. And the proposal would require pedestrian AEB, including requiring that AEB recognize and avoid pedestrians at night. This proposed rule is a major safety advancement.”
If adopted as proposed, 360 lives would be saved and at least 24,000 injuries prevented annually, according to NHTSA projections. Property damage caused by rear-end crashes also would be significant reduced.
If adopted, AEB technology would be required three years after the publication of a final rule on nearly all U.S. light vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
The proposed rule is a key component of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy.