Automatic Emergency Braking to Become Mandatory in U.S., Will Canada Follow?

Among the many advanced driver assistance systems available these days, automatic emergency braking (AEB) is one of those that can do the most for avoiding collisions and saving lives. Luckily, a majority of new vehicles are equipped with AEB, even at the lower price points.

Now, should automakers be forced to make it standard on all their models? U.S. authorities think so.

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• Also: Watch: Here’s How Transport Canada Tests Collision Prevention Systems

By September 2029, a law will require AEB to be fitted on all new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. weighing under 10,000 lbs (4,500 kg). Low-volume brands will have an extra year to comply.

These mandatory AEB systems will be required to avoid a collision with another vehicle ahead of it when traveling at speeds of up to 100 km/h, day or night. They’ll also have to activate automatically at up to 145 km/h to help mitigate rear-end collisions at highway speeds. What’s more, the systems will need to be able to detect and avoid pedestrians at up to 72 km/h.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), mandating and regulating AEB could help save 362 lives and prevent 24,000 injuries annually across the U.S. And that’s not counting vehicle repairs, medical costs and insurance bills.

Canada could decide to do the same, but in the meantime, one thing’s for sure: automakers must keep working on improving AEB technology. A 2022 study by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) revealed that few current systems perform well in the dark. Another study from 2023 showed they aren’t as effective when the vehicle ahead is a motorcycle or a large truck.

Last year, the NHTSA conducted its own tests with 17 different vehicles featuring AEB, including the BMW iX, Ford F-150 Lightning and Hyundai IONIQ 5, but only the Toyota Corolla (!) managed to meet the required standards.