Earlier this spring, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that 20 major auto manufacturers constituting 99% of the American motor vehicle market had agreed to make Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems a standard feature in nearly all of their new cars. The manufacturers agreed to meet this goal by September of 2022. Both the NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)have hailed the commitment as one that will bring major improvements to driver safety and decrease the number of car crashes in the US.

AEB systems were developed some 20 years ago, first appearing in cars available on the US market in 2000. While initially appearing only in luxury models, AEB systems have become increasingly common in recent years. AEB systems use lasers, radar, and cameras to scan the roadway in front of the car for objects or slowing traffic. If the driver does not appear to be taking any evasive measures, or applying the brakes sufficiently to avoid a collision with a nearby object, the car can automatically brake, or increase braking power, to prevent a collision. A similar feature is the Front-Crash Warning (FCW) system, which uses similar technology to identify potential collisions, but only issues a warning that a collision is imminent rather than actually slowing the car.

While many new features involving some element of vehicle autonomy have become common in late-model vehicles, few can boast the same efficacy in improving driver and passenger safety as AEB systems. According to studies conducted by the IIHS, AEB systems can be credited with offering substantial safety improvements for drivers. In one study that looked at decreases in crash rates in cars equipped with FCW and/or AEB systems, the IIHS found a 23% decrease in police-reported crashes among cars with FCW systems, and a 39% decline in police-reported crashes among cars equipped with AEB systems. Injury accidents went down by 43% among cars with AEB systems. The IIHS has used these findings to estimate that, if all cars had been equipped with AEB systems, there would have been 700,000 fewer crashes, and 300,000 fewer injury crashes, in 2013 alone.

If you have been injured in a crash with a distracted or otherwise negligent driver in Virginia, seek experienced and knowledgeable legal assistance to help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact Buck, Toscano, and Tereskerz for a free consultation on your claims, at 434-977-7977.

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