 | Home > Off Topic > Automakers agree to make automatic braking standard feature |
 
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018   
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Luckily, it's in the States but in this world of global production and ever increasing standardisation, then can it be far away for us.
"Automakers agree to make automatic braking a standard feature. Several government agencies have recommended the technology for new vehicles, but so far none have moved to include the systems in new regulations. The National Transportation Safety Board recently issued a public call for a mandate, criticizing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for not already initiating such laws. In an interesting twist, the automakers have voluntarily come to the table and agreed to work with the NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to establish a strategy that will ultimately make collision-avoidance technologies standard on new cars. Notably, the language in statements from automakers and the IIHS suggests it will be a voluntary program. "General Motors supports the call for a voluntary industry safety agreement that would lead to making forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking standard on light vehicles," GM said in a statement. Aside from GM, the list of supporting automakers includes Audi, BMW, Ford, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. Notable exclusions currently include brands associated with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover, Mitsubishi and Subaru, among others. "We are entering a new era of vehicle safety, focused on preventing crashes from ever occurring, rather than just protecting occupants when crashes happen," said US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "But if technologies such as automatic emergency braking are only available as options or on the most expensive models, too few Americans will see the benefits of this new era." The IIHS suggests AEB tech can reduce insurance injury claims by up to 35 percent, echoing the NTSB's estimate that rear-end collisions cause 1.7 million accidents and 1,700 fatalities in the US each year." http://www.leftlanenews.com/automakers-agr...89637.html Maybe given the figures quoted it would not be a bad thing. |
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13th Sep 2015 7:46am |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006  
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While I think it is all a very clever technology I do wonder how long it will take before there are court cases where the defendant claims that the emergency braking system should have prevented them from killing a bunch of pedestrians on a crossing even though they the driver were on the phone or whatever else was distracting them, and that as such the responsibility lies with the car manufacturers?
It all speaks to the somewhat disturbing modern trend towards zero personal accountability both in driving and more generally. "Oh my car is so good I can drive as fast as I want wherever I want and if I do crash my car will protect me so I will be fine, and if it doesn't I will sue the pants off everyone else who might possibly have had a hand in my downfall. " The best road safety device ever proposed was the idea of a foot long razor sharp spike that like an airbag extends from the steering wheel in the event of you driving into something, that would focus people into driving sensibly. But we can't do that because we are a liberal democracy, boo and verily hiss. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon. |
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14th Sep 2015 4:27am |
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| DonH2000 Member Since: 12 Jan 2015 Location: North Kent Posts: 551 
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I have seen a couple of videos of "automatic braking" displays and one particularly comes to mind was the Volvo driving along and straight into the back of the truck it was supposed to stop for.... Why? The engineer forgot to turn the feature on!!!!!!
In the first clip you do see that the automatic window wipers work!!! Cheers Don. |
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14th Sep 2015 2:15pm |
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| davew Member Since: 02 Jan 2012 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 888 
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Strangely enough this popped up on FB this morning... (I know it's a fake but illustrates the point)
http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/ |
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14th Sep 2015 2:46pm |
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