Automatic emergency braking is an advanced technology designed to detect and avoid potential collisions by applying brakes when needed. This system can help prevent accidents or reduce incident severity if one does occur.

This article will discuss the benefits of automatic emergency braking as well as how it works and the development of the technology.

Automatic Emergency Braking - AEB Systems

The effectiveness of automatic emergency braking (AEB) in preventing collisions has been proven in multiple studies, including one done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

This study found that automatic emergency braking systems can reduce rear-end crashes with injuries by as much as 50%. The technology also holds promise to improve highway safety overall, as it is estimated that up to one-third of all crashes are rear-end collisions.

How Does Automatic Emergency Braking Work?

In order to understand how automatic emergency braking works, it’s important to first understand the fundamentals of a typical automatic emergency braking system.

These systems use radar sensors or cameras to detect potential hazards in the roadway. If a hazard is detected, the system will alert the driver and apply the brakes if necessary.

AEB fitted Software

In addition to these sensors, automatic emergency braking systems also use predictive algorithm software to anticipate potential hazards on the road ahead. This allows the AEB system to react faster than a human driver and can be especially useful in anticipating sudden changes in traffic flow or other unexpected road conditions.

The Development of Automatic Emergency Braking Systems

Automatic emergency braking systems have been under development for several years. In the UK all new cars made after April 2018 must be fitted with AEB as standard.

In 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the USA, proposed a rule that would require all new cars and light trucks to include AEB technology by 2021. Since then, many automakers have already begun offering the technology as an optional feature in their vehicle models. These features include:

Forward collision warning,
Lane departure warning,
Blind spot monitoring,
Adaptive cruise control and more.

What is Forward Collision warning?

Forward collision warning is an advanced safety system feature that uses a radar sensor to detect potential obstacles in the vehicle’s path. If an obstacle is detected, the system will alert the driver and, if necessary, initiate emergency brakes to avoid a collision.

What is adaptive cruise control?

Adaptive cruise control is an advanced car safety driver assistance system that uses radar sensors to detect the speed of the vehicles ahead.

The system can then adjust the vehicle’s speed in order to maintain a set distance between your car and the vehicle ahead.

This feature can help reduce rear-end collisions, as it prevents sudden stops due to unexpected traffic flow changes or any other hazardous situation.

It will use the braking system to slow down the car and in some cases even bring it to a complete stop if necessary.

What is Reverse automatic braking?

Reverse automatic braking is similar to forward collision warning, but designed for use when the vehicle is in reverse. The system uses sensors to detect potential obstacles behind a vehicle and can alert the driver or initiate emergency brakes if needed. This system can be especially helpful while parallel parking or backing up in tight spaces.

What is Pedestrian and cyclist detection?

Pedestrian and cyclist detection is a relatively new feature that adds an extra layer of safety to autonomous emergency braking systems. This system uses cameras or radar sensors to detect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, or other small objects near the vehicle and can alert the driver or initiate the brake pedal if necessary.

The emergency brake can help prevent collisions and reduce the severity of any incident that does occur.

Can you turn off automatic emergency braking?

Most new vehicles sold come with the Autonomous emergency braking (AEB Systems) feature as standard, but it can be disabled if desired.

However, it is not recommended to do so as doing so could severely reduce the safety of your car and increase collision risks.

Insurance claims related to collisions involving disabled AEB systems can also be denied, so it is important to think twice before disabling this feature.

Final Thoughts on AEB System

Automatic braking is a critical technology that has been proven to reduce the risk of rear-end collisions and improve vehicle safety overall.

This technology is rapidly gaining traction in the vehicle industry as more vehicle makers incorporate advanced driver assistance features into their vehicles.

While automatic emergency braking systems can be disabled, it is not recommended to do so as disabling the system could increase car crashes and lead to denied insurance claims.

Ultimately, AEB systems are a great step forward for safety on our roads and will play a major role in reducing accident rates in the future as it will mean reduced fatal collisions and reduces any potential collision from happening.

Automatic Emergency Braking: The Future of Collision Prevention