By the end of the decade, new cars and trucks in the United States will be required to have automatic emergency braking systems that can save hundreds of lives each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which announced the requirement last week, called it the most significant safety rule in two decades. Most automakers voluntarily include some form of automatic braking in new models, but the capabilities can vary. Carmakers have been slower to install automatic braking designed specifically to detect and avoid pedestrians, a problem because pedestrian fatalities have been increasing in recent years. Automatic braking is projected to save about 360 deaths a year, a small but necessary drop.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 06, 2024 14:01 UTC