U.S. to Require Automatic Emergency Braking in All New Vehicles by 2029

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has finalized a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that will make automatic emergency braking (AEB), including pedestrian AEB, standard on all new passenger cars and light trucks by September 2029. The safety standard is expected to save at least 360 lives a year and prevent at least 24,000 injuries annually.

The new standard requires all cars to be able to stop and avoid contact with a vehicle in front of them up to 62 miles per hour and detect pedestrians in both daylight and darkness. AEB systems use sensors to detect when a vehicle is close to crashing and automatically apply the brakes if the driver has not done so.

While about 90% of new vehicles currently have AEB as a standard feature, the new rules will ensure consistent performance across all vehicles. The regulation will give automakers time to bolster their systems during the normal model update cycle, but it is expected to drive up vehicle prices by an estimated $82 per vehicle.

Why this matters: The new safety standard fulfills a provision in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and advances the Department's National Roadway Safety Strategy to address the national crisis in traffic fatalities and serious injuries. It is part of the Department's effort to expand vehicle systems and features to help prevent crashes, which have spiked following the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Critics argue the standards should have come sooner and that they do not appear to include requirements for detecting bicyclists or other vulnerable road users. However, the NHTSA sees room for improvement in pedestrian detection systems, which are currently ineffective in low-light conditions, at high speeds, or when the vehicle is turning.

Key Takeaways

• NHTSA finalizes rule to make automatic emergency braking standard on new vehicles by 2029.
• New standard expected to save 360 lives and prevent 24,000 injuries annually.
• AEB systems must detect vehicles up to 62 mph and pedestrians in daylight and darkness.
• New rule will ensure consistent AEB performance across all vehicles, increasing prices by $82.
• Separate rulemaking in progress to require AEB on heavy vehicles like tractor-trailers.