NHTSA adds auto-braking car tech to New Car Assessments

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safetytechHNSTATransportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will add two automatic emergency braking systems to the recommended advanced safety features included under its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

The agency plans to continue to encourage two automatic emergency braking systems – crash imminent braking (CIB) and dynamic brake support (DBS).

Crash imminent braking and dynamic brake support systems help to prevent rear-end crashes by automatically applying the vehicle’s brakes(CIB) or supplementing the driver’s braking(DBS) effort to reduce the severity of the crash or to avoid it altogether.

NHSTA noted it will continue to encourage such ADAS features as V2V communications in the future.

Comments  requested by NHTSA suggested how the agency should update NCAP. Many commenters were very positive about the potential benefit of AEB technology and other car tech. NHSTA has been looking out for dangers in cars. NHTSA levied more than $126 million in fines in 2014.

NCAP currently identifies three Recommended Advanced Technology Features that also help drivers avoid or mitigate crashes

  1. Forward collision warning,
  2. Lane departure warning
  3. Rearview video systems.

NCAP  guidelines can be viewed on www.safercar.gov as well as 5-Star Safety Ratings, which measure the crash-worthiness and rollover safety of vehicles.  For over 30 years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has driven hi-tech safety innovations.

NHSTA was responsible for safety belts, from 1960 through 2012, seat belts saved more than 330,000 lives. Other

NHTSA upgraded its air bag requirements in passenger cars and light trucks by requiring “advanced air bags.” NHTSA estimates that frontal air bags have saved nearly 43,000 lives overall.

Electronic Stability Control ESC has been standard in all new vehicles since model year 2012. While one of the relatively newer technologies that’s standard throughout the light vehicle fleet, ESC has saved almost 6,200 lives.

Behicle-to-Vehicle Communications technology has the potential to save thousands of lives each year. In August of 2014, NHTSA issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) and a supporting comprehensive research report on V2V communications technology.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) are part of what NHTSA refers to as Forward Crash Avoidance and Mitigation (FCAM) systems.