By 2022 Automatic Emergency Braking Will Become Standard

It is expected that the automatic emergency braking will become a standard safety system by 2020.

According to Tech Times, several automakers are aiming to make automatic emergency braking (AEB) standard equipment by 2022. The introduction of the automatic emergency braking safety system in the United Stated virtually guarantees it will also carry over to the Canadian market.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced on its official website a commitment from 20 automakers to make the AEB systems a standard feature by Sept. 1, 2022. The car maker companies entering this agreement represent more than 99 percent of the U.S. automotive industry.

The U.S. based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also entering the groundbreaking agreement with the NHTSA and the 20 automakers, according to the publication Wheels. Among these automakers included in the pact are top brands such as Volvo, Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Audi, Volkswagen, Honda, BMW, Jaguar, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Maserati, Subaru, Porsche, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx declared that this is an exciting moment for car safety. He added that this is a win-win situation, for consumers as well as for safety. These 20 automakers will save lives and help prevent thousands of crashes by "proactively making emergency braking systems standard equipment on their vehicles."

Applying the brakes for the drivers, AEB systems can prevent crashes and help to reduce their severity. The automatic emergency braking technology uses a combination of on-vehicle sensors such as lasers, cameras or radar to detect imminent collisions.

The technology is warning the driver first. If he does not respond fast enough, the technology is applying brakes automatically.

In some vehicles currently on the market, the AEB systems are already being offered as an option. However, the task of making them standard is unprecedented. 

Because it bypasses the regulatory process, the agreement saves three years to deliver the technology as standard equipment. The AEB standard feature could prevent a total of 12,000 injuries and 28,000 crashes nationwide in this time span of three years, according to the NHTSA.