With the number of car crashes in America rising each year, it’s no longer enough to rely on just brakes to save drivers and passengers.
This is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) took a major step toward improved auto safety by finalizing a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, which makes automatic emergency braking (AEB) standard on all passenger cars and light trucks by September 2029.
NHTSA anticipates that this new standard will save at least 360 lives and prevent approximately 24,000 injuries annually.
What is AEB?
AEB systems represent a major advancement in vehicle safety technology. AEB uses sensors like cameras, radar and lasers to constantly monitor the road ahead for potential hazards or collision risks.
If the system detects an imminent crash with another vehicle, pedestrian or obstacle, it will first warn the driver to apply the brakes. If the driver does not react quickly enough, AEB takes over and automatically applies the vehicle’s brakes to either prevent the collision entirely or reduce the force of impact.
This technology is so promising that recent research found it can reduce rear-end collisions by about 50%.
Current AEB adoption
In 2023, 20 automakers reported outfitting 95% of their new vehicles with AEB technology. As impressive as this number is, it only counts newer vehicles. Older automobiles still on the road won’t have such features and can still cause collisions.
What to do during a collision
Until AEB features become standard on all automobiles, you might still be involved in a catastrophic motor vehicle collision. You may be able to pursue damages from the at-fault driver through a personal injury lawsuit. But you can’t rush into a lawsuit expecting an automatic payout.
A legal professional may be able to review your circumstances and assess if you have a strong case for your lawsuit. Consider legal counsel if you want to recover fair compensation for your damages.