AAA: AEB Systems Vary Greatly

Aug. 24, 2016—AAA announced Wednesday that it has conducted a number of tests that show automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems vary significantly, and that not all systems are designed to stop the car. 

Most automakers have agreed to make AEB a standard feature by 2022, but not all of the systems are equal. They are designed to help drivers avoid minor collisions such as rear-ends and pedestrian collisions, but AAA is urging drivers to learn the limits of these systems. 

“All motorists should be aware, not all automatic braking systems actually stop the vehicle,” said Gail Weinholzer, AAA spokeswoman, The Auto Club Group. “There are tremendous safety benefits with this new technology, but automatic braking systems that only slow the vehicle down will still require an engaged driver.”

After more than 70 tests in conjunction with Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center, AAA found that systems designed to prevent crashes reduced vehicle speeds by twice that of system designed only to lessen crash severity. 

With speed differentials under 30 mph, systems designed to prevent crashes reduced vehicle speed by twice that of systems designed only to lessen severity. The faster the vehicles were traveling, the greater the systems varied. When approaching a stopped vehicle at 45 mph, the study found that systems designed to stop vehicles reduced speeds by 74 percent and avoided collisions in 40 percent of cases, while those systems designed to reduce speed only reduced speed by nine percent.