Automated Emergency Braking Standard in New Vehicles

Published on February 4, 2025

by Andrew Maclean

The automotive industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies being integrated into vehicles every year. One of the latest advancements in vehicle safety is the implementation of Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) as a standard feature in new vehicles. This feature has the potential to greatly reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on the road, making it a highly anticipated development in the automotive world.Automated Emergency Braking Standard in New Vehicles

What is Automated Emergency Braking?

AEB is a safety technology that uses sensors, such as cameras and radar, to detect potential collisions and automatically apply the brakes if the driver fails to react in time. It is designed to assist the driver in emergency situations and can help prevent or mitigate crashes by reducing the vehicle’s speed or avoiding a collision altogether.

How Does AEB Work?

The sensors used in AEB are constantly scanning the road ahead, looking for potential obstacles such as other vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles. These sensors can detect the speed and distance of objects and determine if a collision is imminent. If the driver does not take action to brake or steer away from the potential collision, the AEB system will automatically apply the brakes.

Some AEB systems also include a forward-collision warning alert, which will sound an alarm or flash a visual warning to alert the driver of an impending collision. This allows the driver to take action before the AEB system is activated, further reducing the risk of an accident.

Benefits of AEB

The main benefit of AEB is that it can prevent collisions or reduce their severity, ultimately saving lives. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), AEB has the potential to prevent over 700,000 crashes and 400 deaths per year in the United States alone.

Moreover, AEB can also save drivers money in the long run. It can prevent costly repairs and medical bills, as well as potentially lower insurance premiums as the technology becomes more widespread.

AEB as a Standard Feature

Prior to 2020, AEB was only available as an optional add-on in most vehicles. However, in September of 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced that AEB will become a standard feature in all new cars and light trucks sold in the United States by 2022.

The decision to make AEB a standard feature was made after a study showed that vehicles equipped with AEB had 50% fewer rear-end crashes compared to vehicles without the technology. This move has the potential to not only save lives but also greatly reduce the number of accidents and injuries on the road.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the introduction of AEB as a standard feature in new vehicles is a significant step forward in vehicle safety. Its ability to prevent collisions and save lives makes it a highly anticipated technology in the automotive industry. As car manufacturers continue to innovate and integrate new safety technologies, it is important to prioritize the implementation of features like AEB that have the potential to greatly reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on the road.