The US Department of Transportation has announced new regulations that will require automatic emergency braking on all new passenger vehicles in the country. This move, aimed at saving lives and preventing injuries, is being hailed as the most significant safety rule in two decades by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The new rules will mandate that vehicles automatically stop and avoid hitting other vehicles or pedestrians, especially at night. Vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less will be required to have forward collision warning and pedestrian detection braking systems that can operate at speeds up to 62 miles per hour.
While the regulation will not go into effect for more than five years to give automakers time to adjust, some critics believe that the standards should have come sooner. They also argue that requirements for spotting bicyclists and scooter users should have been included in the new rules.
The aim of the regulation is to reduce rear-end crashes and pedestrian fatalities, particularly at speeds above 25 mph. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will conduct tests to ensure automakers are meeting the standards, and radar may need to be added to some systems for accuracy.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety are optimistic that the new standards will ensure that automatic emergency braking functions properly. However, some critics believe that a shorter timeline for implementation would save more lives and are concerned about the lack of specific standards for protecting bicyclists and scooter users.
Overall, the new regulation is expected to significantly improve road safety and reduce the number of accidents caused by rear-end collisions and pedestrian impacts.
