The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently released new requirements for automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems. These requirements will be mandatory for all new cars sold in the United States by September 2029. The final version of the regulation was released on Monday, April 29, 2024. The NHTSA’s AEB system regulations apply to all light vehicles with a gross weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less in the United States.
Under the new regulation, AEB systems in new cars must be capable of stopping and avoiding contact with vehicles in front of them at speeds up to 62 miles per hour. Additionally, the systems must be able to detect pedestrians during both day and night. The regulation also mandates that AEB systems automatically apply brakes when a collision with another vehicle is imminent, up to 90 mph, and up to 45 mph when a pedestrian is detected. As of now, the NHTSA has tested 17 vehicles under the new requirements, with only one vehicle meeting them: the 2023 Toyota Corolla with cameras and radar.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of these regulations, noting that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is not only making historic investments in transportation but also ensuring that new cars and light trucks are equipped with automatic emergency braking. The goal is to make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians. Despite nearly 90% of new vehicles in the United States coming standard with an AEB system, the NHTSA’s new regulation aims to set specific standards that AEB systems must meet. Most automakers have been producing cars with AEB systems under a 2016 voluntary agreement, but the new regulation will now enforce these standards.