Will autonomous braking technology be good enough to become a standard feature? In just a few short years, major automakers plan to include autonomous braking in most models they sell. It's important for regulators to ensure that these systems will work well.
In the U.K., for instance, Euro NCP will begin testing autonomous braking as part of its overall safety rating. Whatcar.com noted that in 2015, 95 percent of the cars that the safety body evaluated were equipped with this technology – albeit to varying degrees. Some of the simplest systems are only able to slow down vehicles traveling at low speeds. However, more advanced sensors are capable of detecting and avoiding collisions with cyclists, pedestrians and other vehicles.
"Euro NCP will begin testing autonomous braking as part of its overall safety rating."
Initial results from the tests indicate which cars will be thought of as the safest options for consumers in the coming years. Riding at the front of the pack is the Toyota Prius, which was the first car tested and received a five-star rating from Euro NCP. The body found that Toyota's Safety Sense technology is fully capable of spotting pedestrians.
In the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has added autonomous brake system testing to its own five-star crash rating. This will place increased pressure on automakers to equip cars sold in the U.S. with the best safety technology possible. We can also expect more vehicles to feature this technology as a selling point.
Autonomous braking is set to become more widespread on the road in both the U.S. and Europe. Drivers will need to learn to trust these systems. A vehicle testing service can determine whether crucial safety components are functioning as intended.