Car manufacturers are delivering major improvements in their automatic emergency braking systems, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after it introduced tougher front crash prevention testing.
Twenty-two of the latest 30 vehicles evaluated earn a good or acceptable rating, which requires systems to be able to prevent or substantially mitigate crashes at higher speeds. In April last year, only three out of the first 10 small SUVs tested performed to that level.
“The rapid progress manufacturers have made to improve these vital crash avoidance systems is impressive,” said IIHS President David Harkey.
“Vehicles that excel in this new test will save lives, as it addresses the most dangerous kinds of front-to-rear crashes.”
The original vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test was run at 12 and 25 mph (20 and 40 kph) with a passenger car target in the center of the travel lane. It was discontinued at the end of 2022, as all vehicles tested were earning the top rating of superior.
The updated test includes trials run at 31, 37 and 43 mph (50, 60 and 70 kph). In addition to a passenger car target, it examines performance with a motorcycle target and a semitrailer. Vehicles are tested with the semitrailer centered in the travel lane and with the car and motorcycle targets centered and offset to one side.
