Auto industry pleads with Biden administration to ‘reconsider’ automatic braking rule
What are the main concerns of the auto industry regarding the AEB rule?
The auto industry's main concerns regarding the AEB rule are that the current technology is insufficient to meet the government's high standards, and the rules finalized earlier this year are "practically impossible with available technology." They argue that driving AEB-equipped vehicles under the new standard will become unpredictable, erratic, and frustrating for drivers. The industry also highlights the increased likelihood of rear-end collisions and the requirement for costly hardware and software changes.
What are the requirements for AEB systems under the new rule?
The new rule requires AEB systems in vehicles to detect and react to an imminent crash with both a lead vehicle or a pedestrian. They must apply the brakes automatically at any forward speed greater than 6.2 mph when a collision is imminent. The systems must also detect pedestrians in both daylight and darkness and avoid contact with a vehicle in front up to 62 mph3.
What specific aspects of the AEB rule is the auto industry requesting to reconsider?
The auto industry, represented by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, is requesting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reconsider several key aspects of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) rule4. They argue that the current technology is insufficient to meet the government's high standards and that the rules finalized earlier this year are "practically impossible" with available technology2. Specifically, they are concerned with the requirements for vehicles to "stop and avoid contact" with vehicles ahead up to 62mph and automatically apply brakes up to 90mph when a collision is imminent. They also raise concerns about the mandates for pedestrian detection in both daylight and darkness, stating that these requirements could lead to unpredictable and erratic driving behavior, increased likelihood of rear-end collisions, and increased production costs due to necessary hardware and software changes.