Automatic Emergency Braking to Be Mandated on All New Vehicles by 2029
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized a new rule Monday that will require new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. to include automatic emergency braking as standard equipment by September 2029.
Related: What Is Automatic Emergency Braking?
NHTSA estimates the mandate will save at least 360 lives a year, as well as prevent more than 24,000 injuries per year. The requirement extends to nearly all light vehicles, which the administration defines as vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. GVWR refers to the total weight of the vehicle plus fuel, accessories, passengers and cargo. Light-duty pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 fall below that cap, while heavy-duty trucks, such as the equivalent brands’ Super Duty F-250 and Silverado 2500, may not. NHTSA is working on a separate rule for heavy trucks.
Foundation Is Already in Place
While the mandate may sound extreme, some 90% of light vehicles sold in the U.S. already include automatic emergency braking under a voluntary agreement reached between a number of automakers, NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2016. On that list as grouped by IIHS are BMW; Ford and Lincoln; Honda and Acura; Hyundai and Genesis; Kia; GM; Jaguar Land Rover; Mazda; Mercedes-Benz; Mitsubishi, Nissan and Infiniti; Stellantis; Subaru; Tesla; Toyota and Lexus; Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche; and Volvo.
However, the new NHTSA rule goes beyond simply requiring the technology, laying out standards for system performance. As IIHS repeatedly shows in its independent testing, such systems vary significantly in their effectiveness. Vehicles conforming to the new standard must automatically apply the brakes when an imminent collision is detected at up to 90 mph, or up to 45 mph when they detect a pedestrian. Systems must be able to spot pedestrians during the day and at night as well. Additionally, systems will be required to bring the vehicle to a complete stop, avoiding contact with a leading vehicle, at up to 62 mph.
More From Cars.com:
- IIHS, Consumer Reports: Automakers Have Met Automatic Emergency Braking Commitment
- Study: Automatic Emergency Braking Reduces Rear-End Crashes for Pickup Trucks, But Few Are Equipped
- Need More Evidence Auto Emergency Braking Saves Lives? Here Ya Go
- IIHS: Pedestrian Detection Systems in Most Mid-Size Vehicles Fail After Dark
- Study: Most Automaker Partial Automation Driving Systems Need Improvements
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