The Alliance of Automotive Innovation has requested for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to "reconsider" the braking rule that was mandated by the government.
The lobbying group argued that the new rule is impractical and will cost a lot on the side of auto manufacturers.
(Photo : Nabeel Syed via Unsplash)
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Auto Industry Pleads 'Reconsideration' From Government
In a letter sent to NHTSA and Congress, the group detailed that the braking rule is "practically impossible" with the current technology. The group revealed that their suggestions were rejected during the process.
The alliance's president and CEO, John Bozzella said that implementing the automatic emergency braking (AEB) for the U.S. vehicles will become "unpredictable, erratic and will frustrate or flummox drivers."
The US Department of Transportation finalized the ruling that all vehicle manufacturers must equip their vehicles with AEB by 2029. This includes sedans, SUVs, and pickup trucks. The rule is supposed to be a preventative measure against the increasing number of accidents, injuries, and deaths on the road each year.
Auto Industry Criticizes Automatic Emergency Braking Rule
Under the new rule, all vehicles must stop and avoid contact with cars ahead of them by up to 62mph. The AEB system also requires that the brakes be automatically powered by up to 90mph when a collision seems unavoidable and up to 45mph when a pedestrian is detected.
In addition, the AEB technology should be capable of identifying pedestrians both in broad daylight and darkness.
However, the alliance argued that the system will cause impracticality to drivers. Vehicles with AEB will automatically apply the breaks in advance, different from how a typical driver would do.
Implementing AEB on manufacturers will also cost a significant amount due to hardware and software changes. The group also emphasized that the current AEB system is less than effective at preventing collision, raising more questions about its efficiency.
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