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Automatic brakes will become a standard feature on many cars

by | Sep 29, 2015 | Car Accidents

Automatic breaking systems — commonly referred to as automatic emergency braking, or AEB — have already been options on cars in the past. However, a new agreement is going to make them standard equipment on a lot of new vehicles. According to reports, 10 car companies have agreed to put these systems in on all of their vehicles going forward.

This change was announced by both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in early September of this year.

The U.S. Transportation Secretary commented on the announcement, citing the high cost of these systems as a big reason they’d pushed for the change. He said that leaving the systems as expensive add-ons for high-end cars meant that a lot of people would never buy them or use them. By making them standard features, even on low-end models, everyone can benefit. The move was lauded as a landmark in automotive safety.

The ten companies that have said they’ll make the change are Ford, Audi, General Motors, BMW, Mazda, Tesla, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Toyota and Volvo. These companies span a large range of cars in terms of price, so it’s not as if these standard features will just be put out on luxury vehicles that are already more expensive than many people can afford. They’ll also be there for entry-level cars, which is exactly what the NHTSA was looking for.

Though this is a step forward in auto safety, accidents still will happen, and those who are injured in these crashes in Colorado need to know what rights they may have to compensation.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “DOT and IIHS announce historic commitment from 10 automakers to include automatic emergency braking on all new vehicles,” Sep. 11, 2015