Automatic
emergency
braking
(AEB)
isn’t
perfect,
but
the
technology
is
improving,
according
to
a
recent
study
conducted
by
AAA.
The
research
comes
on
the
heels
of
a
new
federal
rule
requiring
all
vehicles
to
have
the
most
robust
version
of
AEB
by
2029.
AAA
wanted
to
see
how
newer
vehicles
with
AEB
fared
compared
to
older
models
with
the
technology.
AEB
uses
forward-facing
cameras
and
other
sensors
to
automatically
tell
the
car
to
apply
the
brakes
when
a
crash
is
imminent. And
according
to
the
test
results,
newer
versions
of
AEB
are
much
better
at
preventing
forward
collisions
than
older
versions
of
the
tech.
The
motorist
group
conducted
its
test
on
a
private
closed
course
using
older
(2017–2018)
and
newer
versions
(2024)
of
the
same
three
vehicles:
Jeep
Cherokee,
Nissan
Rogue,
and
Subaru
Outback.
Each
vehicle
was
tested
at
12mph,
25mph,
and
35mph
to
see
how
well
AEB
performed
at
different
speeds.
And
a
fake
vehicle
was
placed
in
the
middle
of
the
road
to
see
whether
AEB
could
prevent
a
collision.
100
percent
of
new
vehicles
braked
before
a
collision
Unsurprisingly,
the
newer
models
performed
a
lot
better
than
the
older
ones:
100
percent
of
the
2024
vehicles
braked
before
a
collision,
as
compared
to
51
percent
of
the
older
vehicles.
That’s
an
improvement
over
similar
tests
conducted
by
AAA
in
2022
in
which
AEB
was
better
at
preventing
low-speed
collisions
than
those
at
more
normal
speeds.
Still,
this
more
recent
test
only
involved
forward
collisions.
Past
AAA
studies
found
AEB
to
be
ill-equipped
at
preventing
other
common
types
of
crashes,
like
T-bone
collisions
and
left
turns
in
front
of
approaching
vehicles.
“Since
we
began
testing
AEB
in
2014,
the
advancements
by
automakers
are
commendable
and
promising
in
improving
driver
safety,”
said
Greg
Brannon,
director
of
automotive
engineering
research.
“There
is
still
significant
work
ahead
to
ensure
the
systems
work
at
higher
speeds.”
It
was
a
positive
sign
that
AEB
is
improving,
considering
the
National
Highway
Traffic
Safety
Administration
(NHTSA)
finalized
a
new
requirement
for
all
light-duty
vehicles
to
have
robust
AEB
systems
by
2029.
Around
90
percent
of
vehicles
on
the
road
today
come
standard
with
AEB,
but
the
new
rule
requires
automakers
to
adopt
a
more
robust
version
of
the
technology
that
can
stop
vehicles
traveling
at
higher
speeds
and
detect
vulnerable
road
users,
like
cyclists
and
pedestrians,
even
at
night.
Even
so,
automakers
are
scrambling
to
put
the
brakes
on
the
new
rule’s
adoption.
Earlier
this
year,
the
Alliance
for
Automotive
Innovation,
which
represents
most
of
the
major
automakers,
sent
a
letter
to
NHTSA
arguing
that
the
final
rule
is
“practically
impossible
with
available
technology”
and
urging
the
agency
to
delay
its
implementation.
(Originally posted by Andrew J. Hawkins)
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