i guess they need to start getting out the checkbook for when these lockup during winter on a iced road cause i am blaming the manufacturer when i slide into a rear when this auto braking locks up the wheels.


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Car buyers may no longer need to splurge on expensive technology packages to reap the benefits offered by cutting-edge safety systems. Ten major automakers pledged Friday they would soon make crash-prevention technologies like automatic emergency braking available on all new vehicles built. Details are still being ironed out, and a timeline will be established in the months ahead. In a written release, the Department of Transportation said the agreement will be implemented "as soon as possible." The ten automakers are Audi, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

Evidence has mounted that demonstrates these crash-prevention systems can make a major difference in preventing or mitigating the severity of accidents, and the federal government has spent the past few months urging automakers to spread safety features throughout their vehicle lineups. Federal officials have pointedly said they should be available for all drivers, not only the ones who can afford them.

"Safety isn't a competitive advantage," said National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief Mark Rosekind, speaking earlier this summer. "You never see the star rating on the side of an airliner when you board. ... Our responsibility is to ensure these innovations achieve their life-saving potential. That means making sure innovations are focused squarely on safety and widely distributed."

Until Friday, auto manufacturers may have disagreed on whether safety packages made for competitive advantages. But ten agreed to make automatic braking standard on all new vehicles, and those ten represented 57 percent of light-duty vehicle sales in the US market in 2014. The DOT said Friday's agreement represented a "historic commitment."

Many automakers were already beginning to include such crash-prevention technology on many models, as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had recently made it a criteria necessary to earn the organization's influential top safety ratings. Federal officials made an announcement about Friday's agreement in Ruckersville, VA, at the IIHS facility, which recently expanded to include more testing grounds for these technologies, which are considered the building blocks toward an automated future.

Automatic emergency braking includes a range of systems that address a variety of crash scenarios, especially rear-end crashes, in which drivers either don't apply brakes or apply insufficient braking power. Through a variety of on-board sensors and cameras, the safety systems warn the driver of an imminent crash, and if the driver fails to respond, they automatically engage the brakes.

"This technology can compensate for the mistakes every driver makes, because the systems are always on alert, monitoring the road ahead and never getting tired or distracted," said IIHS president Adrian Lund.

original article : Ten automakers agree to make automatic braking a standard feature

My wife's explorer has some sort of collision alert system on it. It sounds this horrendously loud alarm and flashes a red warning light on the windshield. It is the single scariest thing I've ever encountered while driving and was the first thing I turned off when we bought it. I can just imagine what this is going to be like not to mention what it's going to end up costing the consumer in the end.

Yeah, unintended braking during winter storm conditions on behalf of the vehicle is fooking scary... that's the LAST thing I need is to start going sideways because rogue code is trying to stop the truck on 8 inches of snow and ice.

I have yet to find a condition where judicious application of the brakes has helped anything over engine braking and letting the damn thing slow itself down.

As if I needed another reason not to waste money on a modern shitbox.

Biggest reason rear end accidents happen is because people are on their f'in cell phones! I dont need the vehicle to tell me when to stop, i can imagine when these systems malfunction. It would probably be more beneficial if ALL drivers were required to take some sort of driver safety course that opened peoples eyes to actual safe stopping distances of their vehicles.

I'll play devil's advocate here...

I think it's a good move simply because, IMO, 99% of the drivers on the road are distracted and/or simply incompetent. This system will benefit them.

For myself and most "enthusiasts"- No thanks, I can brake for myself.

Don't think for a minute though that these systems won't be sorted out amazingly well in a few years.

Remember, at first everyone balked at ABS (I'm old enough to remember!) and now it's hard to imagine not having it as a safety feature on a modern vehicle.


my .02

Maybe for some of us, we are pretty good drivers...but for the general public, i believe that these systems are PROVEN to save lives. NHTSA and IIHS fully endorse these systems. Of course, there are variation in the QUALITY of these systems.

In most systems of this kind, it does more than just brake for you. It also tightens your seatbelt and prep the system for impact to decrease severity of injury.

We all have bad days...we all have moments of stupidity/distractions (aka screaming kids!). Some of us b!tched at ABS, stability control, seatbelts, etc..

I agree with your statements because well...they're true. But i feel that the technology will just enable the people that are already complacent while driving (distracted by phone etc.) and said people will actually be stupid enough to start to rely on it. Seems like if could make things more dangerous in the long run.

As for ABS i hadnt had a vehicle without it until i got my 4runner (yes im young compared to some of you). All in all it has made me a much better driver in any vehicle im in. Now take that principle and apply it to other young people that have come to rely on abs to stop them safely as they do not know what its like without it. Therein lies some of the problem imo

If it stops someone from rear-ending me great. I do fear it will have some annoying alarm sound and such that people will be shutting it off, like mentioned above. not all good tech is implemented will.

Could this be another step to dumbing down America? Whatever happened to staying alert and paying attention? I think there are to many distractions for drivers these days and this could open up another door to add a few more distractions, "Oh honey I don't need to pay attention, I mean this car here can park itself, check my blind spots, and now it even detects if Im going to be in an accident and applies the brakes for me, its like I could literally go to sleep or text and talk during my entire commute now."

Be careful what you wish for. The more advanced technology you put on a simple machine the more complicated it becomes.

There are lots of good valid points in this thread already. Im with you guys, Id rather slow my own vehicle down any day.

America is ALREADY dumbing down...and stupid drivers are always gonna be stupid..parents are always distracted...and old folks have slower reflexes (no offense @1engineer ).

Remember, these systems have been proven to LOWER accident occurrences and LOWER injuries (thus, IIHS supports it)...so, it is not like that these systems dumb down good (and bad) drivers resulting in more accidents.

On a vaguely related topic, can you guys help me out with my question: Question: what do to when hydroplaning?

Thanks in advance.

Guys, this is just the next step to fully autonomous vehicles. As far as dumbing down? We have been doing it for the past 75 years. It's not only the strongest or smartest surviving anymore. Don't believe me? Read some of the questions on this forum. ..

I totally agree..........

That statement is so wrong yet feel so right!