The benefits of forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems are known nowadays. The technology provides two safeguards for drivers who may not react in a timely manner or who may not be fully committed to the road. Most studies have been involved, however their advantages for passenger cars.
The advantages extend to tractor units. The Road Safety Insurance Institute on Thursday released its latest study on AEB and forward collision warning systems, which focused solely on semi-finished products weighing at least 30,000 pounds. Although tractor units crash less often than cars, their weight can make accidents more fatal. And semi-rear of other vehicles is common when they are involved in an accident.
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According to the study, truck drivers could avoid 40% of rear-end collisions if the vehicle were equipped with both active safety features. Semi-trailers with forward collision warnings saw 44% fewer rear-end collisions and 40% fewer trucks equipped with AEB. With the technologies, trucks had 22% and 12% fewer accidents, respectively.
The IIHS investigated 2,000 crashes between 2017 and 2019 to get a picture of how the technologies could potentially save lives. Overall, US crashes with Semis have increased 33% since hitting a low in 2009. The latest statistics show that in 2018 more than 4,000 people were killed in crashes with Semis and 119 of them had a rear-end collision.
Nowadays there are no regulations that prescribe AEB for passenger cars or tractor units. However, a voluntary agreement that covers all major automakers says most passenger cars will be fitted with the technology in 2022. Semis are a different story, although the IIHS pointed out that the technology has been the standard for trucks in the European Union for seven years. The IIHS believes it is time for the US to do the same.
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