Auto industry challenges new federal safety mandate on emergency braking systems

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a rule in April requiring most new vehicles to be equipped with advanced automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems by 2029. However, this directive has met with resistance from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a group representing prominent automakers including General Motors, Toyota Motor, and Volkswagen.

The crux of the automakers' argument lies in the stringent performance requirements set by the NHTSA. The new rule stipulates that vehicles must be capable of automatically stopping to avoid collisions with vehicles ahead at speeds up to 62 miles per hour. The Alliance contends that achieving this standard is "practically impossible with available technology."

John Bozzella, CEO of the automotive group, expressed concerns in a letter to Congress, stating that the NHTSA's action would necessitate "more costly systems that won't improve driver or pedestrian safety." He further criticised the agency for disregarding automakers' concerns, suggesting a "breakdown of a deliberative rulemaking process" at the federal level.

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The automotive industry's petition for reconsideration highlights several key issues. They argue that the strict requirements at higher speeds could lead to unexpected braking far in advance of what typical drivers and other road users would anticipate, potentially causing rear-end collisions. Additionally, the Alliance claims that the NHTSA has significantly underestimated the extent and cost of hardware and software modifications required for compliance.

In contrast to the NHTSA's approach, automakers are advocating for the adoption of a European standard. This alternative method involves detecting potential forward collisions, providing driver warnings, and engaging the braking system automatically when necessary.

The NHTSA's rule, considered one of the most far-reaching U.S. auto safety regulations in recent years, aims to address concerns about the performance of existing AEB systems, particularly in low-light conditions. The agency projects that the new requirements will save at least 360 lives annually and prevent a minimum of 24,000 injuries, addressing the spike in traffic deaths observed following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specific requirements of the rule include automatic brake application up to 90 mph when a collision with a lead vehicle is imminent, and up to 45 mph when a pedestrian is detected. While the NHTSA initially proposed a three-year compliance period in March 2023, automakers have now been granted a five-year window to meet these standards.

It's worth noting that in 2016, 20 automakers voluntarily agreed to make AEB standard on nearly all U.S. vehicles by 2022. By December of that year, all 20 had equipped at least 95% of their vehicles with AEB systems. However, critics argue that without government regulations, there's no way to ensure the effectiveness of these systems.