U.S. Mandates AEB in New Cars by 2029, Targets 90mph and Pedestrian Safety

May 7, 2024, 09:43 AM

The U.S. Department of Transportation has mandated that all new passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks must be equipped with automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems by September 2029. This new rule requires the technology to be capable of operating effectively at speeds up to 90mph and to detect pedestrians in both daylight and darkness. Despite advancements in vehicle safety, pedestrian fatalities have increased, reaching 7,000 deaths in 2021, the highest in 40 years. Critics argue that AEB systems are currently ineffective at night, when three-quarters of pedestrian deaths occur, and that the new mandate might provide a false sense of security.