Biden administration to require advanced safety tech on all new cars and trucks
May 1, 2024
The Biden administration is set to enforce a groundbreaking measure: all new cars and trucks must be equipped with pedestrian-collision avoidance systems and automatic emergency braking by the end of the decade. This initiative aims to curb the rising trend of pedestrian fatalities, particularly notable in the post-Covid era. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the responsibility to standardize this life-saving technology across the entire U.S. vehicle fleet. The new standards mandate collision avoidance at speeds up to 62 mph and require detection of pedestrians even in low-light conditions, with braking mandated at speeds of up to 45 mph upon pedestrian detection. Projections suggest this rule could annually save 360 lives and prevent 24,000 injuries. The move has garnered industry attention, with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation noting the proven effectiveness of such technologies, despite some consumer resistance due to perceived issues with activation and control. Buttigieg acknowledged ongoing technology refinement, hence the implementation delay until 2029, estimating a modest $82 increase in vehicle costs, a small price compared to the lives potentially saved.