NHTSA rejects change to mandatory automatic emergency braking rule

On Monday, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it will not revisit a rule finalized in April stating that nearly all new cars and trucks should be equipped with mandatory advanced automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems by 2029.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing automakers such as General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen, had requested a reconsideration of the rule, according to Reuters. The group argued that the requirement for vehicles to stop and avoid collisions at speeds of up to 62 MPH (100 kilometers per hour) is currently unachievable with existing technology.

Pros, cons of mandatory automatic emergency braking

While NHTSA declined to revisit the regulation, it stated that some technical requirements would be clarified and an error in a test scenario involving an obstructed pedestrian crossing would be corrected.

The rule, described by NHTSA as one of the most significant U.S. auto safety regulations in recent years, is expected to save at least 360 lives and prevent 24,000 injuries annually. The agency highlighted the urgency of the measure in light of the rise in traffic fatalities following the COVID-19 pandemic.

John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, criticized the decision, calling it “wrong on the merits and the science” and expressing concerns about its potential to increase vehicle costs, inconvenience drivers, and offer limited improvements to safety. Bozzella had previously appealed to President-elect Donald Trump to review the regulation.

The 2021 infrastructure law directed NHTSA to establish performance standards for AEB systems, which rely on technologies like cameras and radar to detect potential collisions and automatically apply brakes if the driver does not react in time. Though 20 automakers voluntarily committed to making AEB standard on nearly all vehicles by 2022, critics argue that government regulations are necessary to ensure consistent effectiveness.