Starting in 2029, a new federal safety regulation will require all new cars and trucks in the United States to be sold with automatic emergency braking technology. This technology uses sensors to hit the brakes and avoid a collision if the driver does not react in time. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration set a September 2029 compliance date for this new rule, which imposes more stringent requirements than the current automatic emergency braking technology on most vehicles. The system will have to be able to automatically hit the brakes to avoid collisions at speeds of up to 62 miles per hour, and at least begin to apply the brakes at speeds up to 90 m.p.h. The system will also need to detect pedestrians.
The new safety standards are being implemented due to the rising number of traffic deaths in recent years, with an estimated 41,000 people killed in automobile accidents in the United States in 2023. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the new vehicle safety standards will save lives and prevent injuries every year. Automatic braking systems, which have been around since 2011 and use cameras and radar to identify potential collision risks, have already proven to be effective in preventing accidents. Car manufacturers have voluntarily adopted this technology, and about 90 percent of new vehicles on sale now have some form of automatic emergency braking.
Carmakers have agreed to adopt the automatic braking systems voluntarily, making the technology standard in all new cars and trucks since 2016. The industry’s main lobbying group, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, expressed concerns about the expectation that manufacturers are capable of providing undefined levels of avoidance at all speeds, stating that it was neither practicable nor reasonable. The Biden administration estimated that the new rule would cost an average of $23 per vehicle. The regulations are aimed at improving road safety and reducing the number of traffic deaths and injuries that occur each year.
Car manufacturers have voiced concerns about the new rule’s impact on driver authority, particularly at high speeds. Regulators acknowledged the industry’s concerns but argued that the new safety standards are necessary to address the increasing number of traffic fatalities. The automatic emergency braking technology is seen as a crucial tool in preventing accidents and saving lives on the road. The system’s ability to detect pedestrians and obstacles in front of a car, as well as its requirement to automatically apply the brakes in certain scenarios, will help improve overall road safety for drivers and pedestrians alike. The Biden administration believes that the new rule will have a positive impact on reducing traffic accidents and fatalities in the future.
