Test results recently released by AAA indicate that automatic braking systems vary greatly among different makes and models of vehicles.
Rose White, Spokesperson for AAA Nebraska, says some systems are designed to help prevent crashes by lessening the vehicle’s speed while others are designed to avoid a crash altogether.
White says the systems AAA tested were the kind that are designed to apply the brakes when a driver fails to do so.
She says currently, 10 percent of new vehicles have automatic emergency braking as a standard feature, with more than half of new vehicles having self-braking as an optional feature.
"While any reduction in speed offers a safety benefit to drivers, AAA warns that vehicle capabilities and limitations should be known before you purchase a new vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rear-end collisions, which automatic emergency braking systems are designed to prevent, result in nearly 2000 fatalities and 500,000 injuries annually.”
22 automakers representing 99 percent of vehicle sales have committed to making automatic emergency braking systems standard on all new vehicles by 2022.
More information on the study is available at NewsRoom.AAA.com.