Recent research from AAA demonstrates significant advances in automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems in new vehicles. The study found that 2024 vehicle models avoided 100 percent of frontal collisions at speeds up to 35 mph, a significant improvement compared to 2017-2018 models, which avoided collisions only 51 percent of the time. AEB technology uses sensors and cameras to detect and respond to impending accidents, automatically applying the brakes to prevent collisions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has mandated that all new vehicles include AEB systems by 2029, reflecting the technology’s growing role in improving driver safety. Greg Brannon, director of automotive engineering research at AAA, praised the progress but noted that further development is needed to make the systems work effectively at higher speeds.

The AAA tests, conducted in conjunction with the Auto Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center, evaluated both older and newer vehicles of the same make and model. When tested at speeds up to 35 mph, the newer models were almost twice as likely to avoid collisions. However, when the speed increased to 45 mph, only three out of four vehicles successfully avoided collisions, and none of the vehicles were able to do so at 55 mph.

AAA pointed out that while advances are promising, the technology still faces limitations at higher speeds. The organization supports NHTSA’s new rule requiring AEB systems to prevent crashes at speeds up to 62 mph by 2029 and encourages continued development of sensor technology and braking algorithms. It also recommends incorporating more responsive Forward Collision Warning (FCW) alerts to give drivers extra time to react.

AAA advises drivers not to rely solely on AEB systems, stressing the importance of remaining alert and avoiding risky behaviors such as speeding or distracted driving. The organization continues to monitor the evolution of these technologies and advocates for improvements that increase safety on the road.

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