megatrends

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
systems prepare and ultimately apply
maximum braking at the last possible moment
before a front-to-rear collision, if the driver
does not do so. Combined with stereo
cameras, lidar, radar or a combination of these
known as ‘sensor fusion’, AEB has been shown
to help to reduce low-speed shunts by 25-
27%.
Figures from the European Commission
suggest that AEB could save 8,000 lives a year
in Europe alone. 75% of light vehicle crashes
occur at speeds below 20mph (32kph), and
around 25% of insurance claims involve frontto-rear
crashes: AEB offers improved safety
for drivers, and can reduce the potentially
crippling effects of whiplash.
AEB is also something that insurance
companies are looking at with serious interest.
In the UK, the Association of British Insurers
(ABI) has agreed to incentivise the purchase of
vehicles fitted with AEB as standard, by giving
Q1 2013
them a lower group rating. James Dalton, the
ABI’s Head of Liability, told Megatrends, “we
urge manufacturers to fit AEB as standard
rather than as an option.”
AEB has been mandated for trucks in
Europe...but not for cars
In light of the
convincing
arguments for AEB,
the technology will
be included in Euro
NCAP testing from
2014, and it would
be logical to ask
whether it should
be mandated, much
the same as, first,
safety belts, and
then ESC
(electronic stability
control) were. ESC
has been required
Megatrends
AEB: probably the most important
safety development of recent years
From 2014, the Euro NCAP safety test will include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.
Megatrends talks to leading industry figures about the importance of this technology
Martin Kahl
since 2012 for new cars and from 2014 for
face-lifted cars. However, as noted in a recent
Automotive World safety report (Technology
Roadmap: Light Vehicle Safety, available at
automotiveworld.com/research), there is
qualified industry support for the regulation of
Cars fitted with AEB as standard Oct 2012
Make/Model System Name
Lexus LS Advanced Pre Crash Safety System
Mazda CX-5 Smart City Braking System
Volvo S60 CitySafety
Volvo S80 CitySafety
Volvo V40 CitySafety
Volvo V60 CitySafety
Volvo V70 CitySafety
Volvo XC60 CitySafety
Volvo XC70 CitySafety
VW Golf V11 (Dec 2012) City Emergency Braking
Source: Thatcham
Automotive World Megatrends magazine | www.automotiveworld.com
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