AEB systems in vehicles could prevent Pennsylvania car accidents

Pennsylvanian families are torn apart every year by fatal motor vehicle accidents. Many of these car accident fatalities and serious injuries are caused by a delay in braking or braking with insufficient force. However, there are technologies available that could prevent some of these tragedies from occurring.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems can bring vehicles to a total stop or apply brakes gradually to allow drivers to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. Experts find that these systems can reduce rear-end accidents by 40 percent.

Vehicles that have AEB systems also have collision warning. The car may use radar or a camera to scan the road and warn the driver if they are about to be involved in an accident. Sensors at the front of the car will measure distance from the vehicle to the car in front. These sensors can be affected by snow, dirt and other elements and will need to be cleaned regularly.

These warnings can be vibrations, visual or sounds or a combination of the three. The vehicle may also brake as a warning. If the driver does not slow down or stop, the AEB system will go into effect.

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 20 well-known automakers have agreed to make AEB systems a standard feature (which is currently only an option) by late 2022. These 20 manufacturers make up 99 percent of the United States automotive industry.

While AEB systems and other safety features can reduce the number of accidents on the road, they are never fool-proof. Drivers will still need to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of them and exercise caution when behind the wheel. Failure to do these things can be considered negligence and drivers can be held liable for any damage or injury they caused while behind the wheel.

Source: Tech Times, “Automatic Emergency Braking System Becomes Standard in 2022: Here’s How The Technology Works,” Sumit Passary, March 19, 2016