WASHINGTON (May 31, 2023) – NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy released the following statement in response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s announcement on a notice of proposed rulemaking Wednesday that all new passenger cars and light trucks would be required to have automatic emergency braking (AEB) and pedestrian AEB systems:
“We know from our own research and crash investigations that automatic emergency braking will save lives. That’s why the NTSB has advocated for mandating that it be installed in all vehicles for decades. We commend NHTSA’s actions today as a major leap forward for road safety. However, I do hope NHTSA reconsiders the deadlines, which are much too long and could extend out to 2029 for certain manufacturers, incorporates AEB for bicyclists and motorcyclists, and requires installation of AEB and pedestrian AEB in commercial vehicles.”
The NTSB first recommended collision avoidance technology, specifically forward collision warning, as a solution to crash avoidance in 1995. The NTSB also published two special investigative reports on rear-end crashes in 2001 and in 2015.
Requiring collision avoidance technology on all vehicles has been on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements since 2021. The NTSB plans to submit comments to the proposed rulemaking.
To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).
