AAA Study Finds Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking in Cars Not Foolproof
Technology designed to make backing up safer for cars has been found to be beneficial, but not foolproof, according to a recent study conducted by AAA. The results showed that despite the presence of this advanced technology, crashes involving children and cross traffic are still a risk.
The study, conducted by AAA, tested the effectiveness of reverse automatic emergency braking (AEB) in various scenarios. AEB is a feature that automatically activates a car’s brakes when it detects a potential collision behind the vehicle. The technology has been installed in approximately 30% of new cars.
In the tests, the vehicles equipped with reverse AEB were put through two scenarios – one involving a “7-year-old pedestrian target” and the other simulating cross traffic when backing out of a parking space. The results were mixed.
In the pedestrian test scenario, the vehicle applied the automatic brakes 75% of the time, successfully preventing collisions in 50% of the tests. However, in the cross traffic scenario, the brakes were only applied in 65% of the tests and prevented collisions in a mere 2.5% of cases.
Mark Schieldrop, Senior Spokesperson for AAA, stressed the importance of not solely relying on reverse AEB. “Our tests show that reverse automatic emergency braking has clear benefits,” he said. “However, it should not be seen as a substitute for an attentive driver.”
AAA advises drivers to use backup cameras and visually check their surroundings while backing up. They also recommend backing up slowly, especially when there are obstructions to side vision, in order to give the system more time to detect cross traffic and apply the brakes. If possible, drivers should consider pulling through a parking space to exit the area moving forward, instead of backing out.
According to AAA, from 2018 to 2022, there have been over 36,000 crashes in Massachusetts where a vehicle was backing up prior to a collision. These accidents have resulted in 13 deaths and over 2,200 injuries.
While reverse AEB technology has clear benefits in certain situations, it is crucial for drivers to remain vigilant and attentive at all times. The study highlights the importance of using advanced safety features as tools to aid drivers, rather than relying on them completely.
Analyst comment
Neutral news. The study results show that technology designed to make backing up safer for cars, specifically reverse automatic emergency braking (AEB), is beneficial but not foolproof. While AEB successfully prevented collisions in some tests, it had limited effectiveness in scenarios involving cross traffic. The market for AEB technology is likely to continue growing, but drivers need to remain attentive and not rely solely on this advanced safety feature.
