Automatic braking systems are designed to reduce the number of crashes, deaths and injuries, but new data shows the systems barely worked in tests.
In AAA crash tests, the rear automatic emergency braking system was able to avoid a collision in only one out of 40 tests across multiple vehicle models.
An AAA official said, “This technology is not yet fully developed.”
The automatic braking system worked slightly better when small children were in the back of the car, but it was still able to prevent crashes only 50% of the time, or 10 out of 20 test runs.
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“The automatic emergency braking system is in no way a replacement for the driver who is driving. The driver must be fully aware of their surroundings,” AAA officials said.
Federal regulators at NHTSA announced a rule requiring all passenger vehicles to be equipped with automatic emergency braking technology in a notice of proposed rulemaking starting in 2023.
Our news partners at WSB Channel Two Action News investigated an issue with the car’s front emergency braking system.
Simone Crawford is one of hundreds of drivers who have filed complaints with NHTSA after their cars braked unexpectedly at high speeds even when there was nothing in their path.
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“It was like, oh my god, that’s what you feel. You start looking around to see if there’s anyone around, like oh my god,” Crawford said.
Amy Cohen believes automatic emergency braking could have saved her son Sammy’s life. When he was 12 years old, he was run over and killed while walking to soccer practice.
“His death was preventable…He would have turned 23 this year,” Cohen said.
Currently, each car manufacturer sets its own standards for automatic braking systems. NHTSA regulations will establish specific performance standards.
The plan is nearly 300 pages and details how these systems must work to meet federal standards.
