Automakers Audi, BMW, Ford, GM, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Toyota, and many more are joining a movement of transitioning automatic braking, from an optional feature to a standard vehicle safety feature. What does this mean for cars' future?
The invention of wheel has really changed the way how people travel and view transportation. From the oldest known date of use around 3500 BC up to its modern counterpart, man enjoyed the luxury of time and convenience with the aid of this revolutionary invention as he transports himself via land from one place to another. However, as transportation progressed, accidents related to land transportation likewise surfaced. And according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT), "nearly 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year, on average 3,287 deaths a day. Unless action is taken, road traffic injuries are predicted to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030."
As a result of this known statistical facts, series of changes were made in order to lessen occurrences of accidents and in order to keep drivers and passengers alike relatively safe. Safety features such as seatbelts and airbags were added so as to lessen the effect of accidents if ever it would happen. And most recently as to the report of mashable, automaker giants including Audi, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo are said to be transitioning automatic braking from an optional to standard vehicle safety feature.
This effort of reducing the amount of road crash accidents is being overseen by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The move was greatly recognized by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, especially those in previous years that only expensive models of automobiles are equipped with automatic emergency braking mechanism. As to the words of Secretary Foxx, he emphasized that;
"We are entering a new era of vehicle safety, focused on preventing crashes from ever occurring, rather than just protecting occupants when crashes happen. But if technologies such as automatic emergency braking are only available as options or on the most expensive models, too few Americans will see the benefits of this new era. These 10 companies are committing to making AEB available to all new-car buyers."
