AAA Warns of Misconceptions Regarding Automatic Braking Systems
August 24 2016 - 11:40AM
Dow Jones News
The automatic emergency braking systems showing up on an
increasing number of vehicles may not work quite the way drivers
think they do.
A study released Wednesday by AAA found that many buyers don't
know that some systems are designed to prevent accidents, while
others only attempt to lessen the damage done when a crash occurs.
The Florida-based auto club says consumers need to be better
educated on these systems, particularly as federal regulators and
auto makers tout them as lifesaving devices.
Most auto makers have agreed to install systems within six years
that automatically apply brakes when the car senses it is about to
crash. Automatic braking systems are often being paired with
lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control to make vehicles
more capable of making decisions that drivers have traditionally
made.
These advanced driver-assistance systems have been cited by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as technology that
will help reduce the rising number of deaths attributed to
accidents. The agency has said a pledge earlier this year from auto
makers to install automatic emergency-braking systems on new cars
by 2022 will make the technology standard three years faster than
through a formal regulatory process, preventing additional crashes
and injuries.
The National Safety Council on Tuesday said 2016 is on pace to
be the deadliest year on the roads in nearly a decade, with 19,100
people killed through the first half. That increase comes after
traffic fatalities unexpectedly rose in 2015 after several years of
declines.
AAA conducted a series of tests on driving tracks and found
systems that are created to prevent crashes altogether slowed the
car nearly twice as much as others built to slow the car just
enough to stop massive damage.
Greg Brannon, director of automotive engineering with AAA said
two-thirds of 1,000 people surveyed said they thought all automatic
braking schemes worked the same.
Driver assistance systems have come under increased scrutiny
after the fatal May crash in Florida of Joshua Brown, who died
while the Autopilot function of his Tesla Model S was engaged.
Safety advocates say drivers may be lulled into a false sense of
security.
"None of these systems yet are (fully) autonomous," said Mr.
Brannon. "You need to keep your hands on the wheel and your foot on
the brake."
Automatic braking systems come on a wide range of vehicles.
The 2016 Honda Civic now comes with optional automatic brakes
that will cost an extra $1,000 and engage at speeds of about 60
miles an hour or under when the car judges it is about to hit
something. Honda Motor Co.'s automatic brakes will be available on
Accords and Ridgelines in 2017, said spokeswoman Jessica Pawl.
Nissan Motor Co.'s 2017 Pathfinder sport-utility vehicle will
have an optional automatic emergency-braking system that can engage
whether or not the vehicle is towing a load.
Automatic brakes have been standard on Volvo Car Corp. cars
since 2014, said spokesman Jim Nichols. The speed the vehicle is
traveling is more of a factor in whether the car comes to a
complete stop than the type of automatic brakes it is equipped
with. Under 17 miles an hour, says Mr. Nichols, the car will come
to a stop with Volvo's automatic brakes, but at higher speeds will
slow the car to lessen damage.
"Essentially, Isaac Newton is kind of calling the shots in
certain situations," he said.
Volvo also outfits some models with a camera-brake combination
that can pick out what an object is from a database of hundreds of
thousands of uploaded photos, be it an animal, person or another
car.
Write to Jonathan Bach at jonathan.bach@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 24, 2016 11:25 ET (15:25 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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