Gadgetory

just as we expect new cars to have mirrors parking brake seatbelts abs and airbags regardless of their price or type we may soon expect the same of automatic emergency braking automatic emergency braking will apply partial braking and alert the driver of a potential collision 10 automakers who are responsible for more than half the cars and light trucks sold in the US have pledged to make the technology available across their lives which certainly points down the road to it eventually being required now how and when a EB goes mainstream will be worked out with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety they're consulting now and by the time they get that done it'll be hard for all the other car makers to stay out the u.s. new car assessment program which addresses standards from many systems includes ten formal tests of safety gear but automatic emergency braking is not yet one of them as you drive collision prevention assist is comparing your speed to vehicles or objects ahead now a EB is just another term for a tech you may already know Subaru calls it pre-collision braking system Acura and Honda collision mitigation braking system and Mercedes dubs at the wordy Distronic plus with pre safe break but all of these currently live in the world of a nice-to-have option not common or standard the way it works is cameras lasers and ultrasonic sensors constantly watch the space ahead of your car and if the processor they're connected to determines your closing on an object moving or still too rapidly and seem to be making no inputs on the brake or steering the car will brake for you a car that can see trouble and stop itself to avoid it even if it doesn't eliminate the impact it would lessen its energy and if it appears you cannot avoid the collision the system engages the features of pre-safe to help prepare the occupants the safety and insurance communities have been falling in love with this tech for a few years making it the early darling of all the active driver assist the IIHS has found that cars with this basic tech are associated with up to 35% fewer accident injury claims they like paying viewer claims you like not being involved until a EB is required in new cars it pays to double check if the one you're considering buying as it anyway more realities of modern driving revealed now at C net on cars comm click on smarter driving