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EU to Mandate and Incentivize Autonomous Emergency-Braking Systems

By Davey G. Johnson

By AutoWeek Aug 4, 2012 8:08AM
The 2013 Volvo S60 is available with an autonomous emergency braking system. Photo by Volvo.


Last week in Park City, Utah, a group of us were discussing the chutzpah that some manufacturers have in charging hundreds of dollars for outboard mirrors that dip downward when the vehicle's placed in reverse. The consensus was, “Since the electric motors in the mirrors are already there, and the computers know the car's set to back up, it's only a line of code. A very expensive line of code.”

The European Union seems to be thinking along the same lines. Given the proliferation of antilock brakes and adaptive cruise-control systems, EU regulators are thinking, “Why not mandate automatic emergency-braking systems in an attempt to reduce collisions?”


As of now, the mandate only applies to commercial vehicles, which will be required to be equipped with the systems come November of 2013. The ruling for private automobiles is more dictum than mandate, but it dangles a seriously tasty carrot in front of manufacturers. Starting in 2014, Euro NCAP will include assessment of the autonomous braking systems in its crash-safety testing, and only vehicles so equipped will be eligible to earn the agency's coveted five-star rating.


Given that American regulators are serious about mandatory backup-camera installation in vehicles on our shores, it may only be a matter of time until autonomous braking winds up alongside stability control, ABS and airbags as systems that once seemed like safety perks for the wealthy but now appear in vehicles as a condition of sale.


After all, nothing cheapens once-pricey lines of code like a legal decree for mass adoption.


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35Comments
Aug 5, 2012 10:42AM
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By far, the most important thing in a moving vehicle is a fully-functioning human brain.  Why don't regulators push sensible mandates, like...uhh....gee, I don't know....maybe laws with teeth that prohibit cell phone use, texting, reading, shaving, applying makeup, and other totally distracting driver behaviors that happen all the time.  Statistically, drivers that practice these behaviors are more dangerous than drunk drivers.  They should be given one warning, then lose their licenses for a second offense.  These people simply don't have the common sense and good judgement to drive safely.  The continual addition of expensive and largely unnecessary high-tech systems in cars only drives prices higher where fewer people can afford to buy new cars.  These systems are often prone to failure, and are expensive to fix.  If Big Brother is insistent about keeping an eye on all of us, have him put laws in place that will actually reduce accidents, rather than requiring systems that eventually will lead to self-driving cars. 

Aug 5, 2012 10:37AM
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Why do we not just learn how to drive safely instead of relying on devices. I have yet to own any piece of technology that at one point has not failed. Do we really have to have mirrors that automatically move when you reverse. If your mirrors are adjusted properly to begin with there should be no problem seeing whats behind you, not sure, turn around. Autonomous braking system ? Sounds kind of scary that the vehicle could just jam on the brakes for whatever reason it wanted. Lets take more responsibilities away from the drivers so they become even more incapable of doing for themselves. The automakers have deeper pockets too. Who would you rather sue? Some working joe with a few drinks in him or the automaker and the manufacturer of every component used . This is just more usless crap and more regulatory horsesh!t in the coming.
Aug 5, 2012 11:41AM
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I for one am deeply disturbed at all this automation crap being put on vehicles these days, driving up the prices as well as the weights. ABS was a good thing, but many of us who actually love driving don't want traction control, active suspension, and other driver assists. When I take my modified Infinity G37 coupe to the track on weekends I can at least turn traction control off (VDC button). When will the government dictate that I'm too stupid to not use traction control and force companies to remove that option? My first high performance car off the showroom floor was a 1985 Corvette, and it had no traction control, no ABS, and no steering assists. I raced it and never wrecked it.

I swear sometimes the government intends to dumb society down on purpose like that movie Idiocracy and its Orwellian Nineteen Eighty-Four-ish message.

Aug 5, 2012 4:15PM
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Just a thought for everyone to ponder:  How soon will it be until every automobile will have a small short-range telemetry transmitter providing police with a complete readout of what's illegal about your car as they pass you.  They already have a black-box in newer cars proving after-the-fact recordings of speed, seatbelt use, abs brake system usage, etc.  By going just one step farther, your car will be telling the cops EXACTLY how fast you were driving just before they pull you over.  Think about it. 
Aug 5, 2012 3:12PM
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What a crock of crap. What good can really come out of all this automation? In my opinion, it is just one more thing that can and will go wrong at some point.
Aug 5, 2012 5:08PM
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All computerized. Ever have a computer malfunction? Having it happen while driving sure sounds like fun.
Aug 5, 2012 3:06PM
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Why not activate headlights when windshield wipers are turned on?
Aug 5, 2012 8:00PM
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To all those who thinks that is and the auto reverse is a good idea.   Learn to drive.   Look around while driving and backing up.   Then you wouldn't have to blindly depend on a car to drive you.  A good driver doesn't need garbage like this to "DRIVE".
Aug 5, 2012 5:40PM
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Far more stringent driving tests should be employed in the USA, as the standard of driving over here is terrible.

 

The californian driving test is a joke and could be passed by a monkey..people should be awake and aware whilst driving and be able to control the brakes themselves.

Aug 5, 2012 7:56PM
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All this safety stuff that assist the driver or in some cases take control of the vehicle are all good.  The only problem is people will forget how to really drive.  Go back before the introduction of ABS braking systems.  You learned how to brake on snow or ice, how to steer out of a slide, knew what under-steer or over-steer was, how to anticipate what was ahead and brake accordingly.  You knew what carburetor icing was and how to use a choke to start a cold vehicle.   All this and more while changing gears manually.

These systems make drivers ignorant in the basics of driving a two ton bullet.  If the safety systems that today's drivers blissfully depend on to make all the correct decisions fail, they won't be skilled in what to do on their own.  But they say ignorance is bliss.

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