AAA: Emergency Braking Systems Vary Widely in Performance

Typically, automatic emergency braking isn’t something we think about until we need it. Fortunately, a new study from AAA reveals clues about their overall effectiveness in preventing accidents, as well as some misconceptions of the technology.

AAA conducted more than 70 trials on five vehicles, including the 2016 Honda Civic, Lincoln MKX, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Passat, and Volvo XC90. Some of the models are equipped with technology designed to prevent crashes, while others are intended only to reduce a crash’s severity. Of the 70 trials, the AEB systems designed to prevent crashes were able to slow down the vehicle by twice that of the lesser crash systems.

The systems designed to prevent crashes managed to do just that in 60 percent of test scenarios, given the speed differential is under 30 mph. But surprisingly, the lesser crash systems were able to avoid accidents one third of the time, even though they weren’t designed with this expectation in mind.

AAA also tested the auto braking systems in a seemingly more dangerous situation, when traveling at 45 mph and about to hit a static vehicle. At this point, you start to really notice the differences between AEB systems. The stronger systems designed to avoid collisions escaped crashes 40 percent of the time, and reduced speeds by 74 percent on average. Those not designed for avoiding crashes were only able to slow down by about 9 percent.

Of course, it makes sense that auto braking systems designed to prevent crashes would perform better than those not designed for that purpose. But many drivers seem to lump all kinds of AEB systems into one category in their minds.

“AAA found that two-thirds of Americans familiar with the technology believe that automatic emergency braking systems are designed to avoid crashes without driver intervention,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair, in a press release. “The reality is that today’s systems vary greatly in performance, and many are not designed to stop a moving car.”

Today, only 9 percent of U.S. drivers have a car equipped with AEB. Nearly 40 percent of drivers want the technology on their next vehicle, however, with men (42 percent) more likely than women (35 percent) to desire this feature. By 2022, we should see AEB as a standard feature on virtually all new cars sold thanks to a pact formed by 22 automakers.

Source: AAA

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