The U.S. government has announced a new regulation that will require automatic emergency braking to be standard on all new passenger vehicles in the country. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) believes this requirement will save hundreds of lives and prevent thousands of injuries each year, making it the most significant safety rule in the past two decades.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of this regulation, stating that the country is currently facing a crisis in roadway deaths and action needs to be taken. The regulation aims to prevent rear-end and pedestrian collisions, which contribute to the roughly 40,000 traffic deaths that occur annually in the United States.
While approximately 90% of new vehicles already have automatic braking under a voluntary agreement with automakers, the current lack of performance requirements means that some systems may not be as effective. The new regulation sets standards for vehicles to automatically stop and avoid collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians, even in low-light conditions.
Secretary Buttigieg sees this technology as a critical component of reducing roadway deaths. He believes that setting high performance standards is necessary to make a significant impact. However, the regulation won’t go into effect for more than five years, providing automakers with time to enhance their systems during the normal model update cycle.
One concern raised by critics is that the regulations do not include specific requirements for the systems to detect and protect vulnerable road users such as cyclists and scooter riders. This omission may limit the effectiveness of the new rule in preventing accidents involving these individuals.
Under the new regulation, all passenger vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less will be required to have forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection braking. The standards mandate that vehicles must be able to stop and avoid collisions with the vehicle in front of them at speeds up to 62 miles per hour. Additionally, they must apply the brakes automatically at up to 90 mph if a collision is imminent.
To ensure vehicles comply with the standards, NHTSA will conduct random tests. Although the agency does not specify the type of sensors automakers must use, testing showed that only one of the 17 tested vehicles, a 2023 Toyota Corolla equipped with cameras and radar, met the standards. This suggests that approximately 5% of existing systems will require the addition of radar to comply with the requirements.
Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, praised the new standards, as they will provide car buyers with clarity on the effectiveness of automatic emergency braking. She believes that, overall, it is better to have this technology than not, and once the regulation is in place, the federal government will be effectively protecting consumers.
While most are supportive of the new regulation, some argue that the timeline for compliance should be shorter than the proposed five years. A shorter timeline would save more lives and make roadways safer more quickly. Additionally, there are concerns that the rule does not address bicyclists and scooter riders, leaving them vulnerable to accidents.
In conclusion, the introduction of a new U.S. regulation requiring automatic emergency braking in all passenger vehicles aims to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. By setting performance standards and ensuring compliance through random testing, the government aims to make roadways safer. However, it is important to address concerns regarding the inclusion of vulnerable road users and consider shortening the timeline for compliance to maximize the impact of this regulation. Only through comprehensive measures can we make significant progress in preventing accidents and saving lives on our roads.