The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has introduced new federal safety regulations for automobiles. These standards mandate the inclusion of advanced automatic braking systems in all new cars, a requirement that manufacturers must adhere to by 2029. The directive applies to all passenger cars and light trucks weighing under 10,000 pounds. The automatic emergency braking systems must be capable of bringing a car traveling at speeds of up to 62 MPH to a complete stop while avoiding a collision. Additionally, these systems must be able to detect oncoming pedestrians at speeds of up to 45 MPH in both daytime and nighttime conditions.
Automatic emergency braking systems utilize various sensors, lasers, and cameras to identify potential collisions. When a crash is imminent, the system autonomously applies the brakes or provides brake assist to assist the driver in stopping safely and promptly. While it’s worth noting that these systems are already present in 90% of new cars, many existing systems do not meet the specified MPH thresholds outlined in the new regulations. The NHTSA believes that most manufacturers will be able to meet these requirements through software updates.
The NHTSA estimates that these new regulations will prevent over 360 road deaths annually and reduce the severity of more than 24,000 injuries. Furthermore, it is expected to result in significant savings in property damage costs. The announcement of these regulations has been hailed as a major victory for consumer safety by Cathy Chase, the president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Despite this positive reception, the auto industry, represented by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, has expressed reservations about the mandate. The group has urged the NHTSA to consider alternative options, citing the need for significant hardware and software changes to meet the specified performance levels.
Tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggest that meeting these requirements may necessitate substantial overhauls of existing systems. The research group tested crash avoidance systems on ten small SUVs and found that many failed to stop in time to avoid collisions in challenging testing scenarios. However, despite these challenges, the NHTSA remains committed to implementing these regulations.
In addition to these regulations, the NHTSA has also concluded an investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot driver assistance system. The investigation, which reviewed hundreds of crashes, including 13 fatal incidents resulting in 14 deaths, found that the accidents were primarily due to driver misuse of the system. However, the NHTSA also noted that Tesla’s weak driver engagement system was not suitable for Autopilot’s permissive operating capabilities. The organization found that drivers using Autopilot or the company’s Full Self-Driving technology were not sufficiently engaged, leading to instances of foreseeable misuse and avoidable crashes.
Tesla has defended its Autopilot system, stating that it provides regular warnings to drivers to maintain their attention on the road. Despite these warnings, the NHTSA and other safety groups have criticized Tesla for inadequate measures to prevent misuse. The organization has also initiated another investigation into Tesla to evaluate the effectiveness of a recent OTA software fix issued in December following a vehicle recall.
