WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new rule imposed by the administration of President Joe Biden on Monday decrees that, starting in September of 2029, all new cars and trucks sold in the United States will be required to have automatic emergency braking systems installed.
The required systems consist of sensors that automatically cause the vehicle in question to break to avoid a collision if the driver fails to do so. The automotive industry had already embraced braking systems in 2016, with 90 percent of new vehicles having some form of the tech installed; however, the new rules put forth by feds Monday are far more stringent.
As per the 317-page document outlining the new standards, all “light vehicles” – defined in the document as cars, large pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles – will be required to have systems that will enable the vehicles they are installed in to automatically break to avoid hitting other vehicles or pedestrians while traveling at speeds of up to 62 miles per hour. Meanwhile, at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, the system will be mandated to at least begin applying the brakes to attempt to avoid a collision.
The new standards build upon previous requirements on automatic emergency braking systems that now comes equipped on most vehicles, but automakers are complaining that the technology the Biden Admin is requiring has not been fully developed yet. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Stated that they believed the technology will be ready by the September 2029 compliance date that they have set.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg cited the rising number of deaths attributed to traffic accidents in recent years – with approximately 41,000 people dying in 2023 alone – as the reason why the new standards are needed.
The new vehicle safety standards we finalized today will save hundreds of lives and prevent tens of thousands of injuries every year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is not only making historic investments in transportation, it’s also ushering in a new era of safer travel by ensuring new cars and light trucks are equipped with automatic emergency braking, making our roads safer for drivers and pedestrians alike.”
But regulators decried the new rule, saying that they were “concerned” about “taking away the driver’s authority” when traveling at higher speeds.
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist, videographer, reporter and writer for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® as well as other independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher works on a wide variety of topics and fields, has been featured in print and online in a variety of publications, from local to national, and helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening in the automotive world for Auto Buyers Market.