FCAI backs AEB uptake

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has acknowledged the importance of new safety technology in modern cars, following a demand last week from ANCAP and the AMA to outlaw vehicles not fitted with AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking).

But FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber has certainly not echoed the views of the AMA (Australian Medical Association) or ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Programme).

Quoted in a press release issued yesterday, Weber instead highlighted the major reduction in the road toll over the past decade – attributing much of that improvement to safer cars.

"Australian Government figures show that road deaths in Australia have declined over the past decade," Weber said. "The FCAI sees safer cars as a key element of this decrease, along with safer roads and safe driver behaviour.

"We have one of the most competitive new car markets in the world. This competition is good for road safety, with manufacturers continually striving to introduce the very latest technologies into their vehicles."

Reading between the lines, the competitive nature of the Australian market is a prime mover for early adoption here of new safety technology. But the very nature of that competition also hinders adoption of features that would add to a car's landed cost – and place that model at a perceived disadvantage in the market. That's possibly the reason that Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) has not been universally adopted here, even in the event the system is available in the same model overseas. Weber continued, deflecting criticism of the industry for its allegedly slow uptake of AEB by looking even further into the future of automotive safety.

"In particular, the development of connected cars has the potential to significantly improve road safety in Australia and reduce congestion on our roads to make the daily commute a safer and easier experience.

"To effectively introduce more connected vehicles into Australia, it is vital that governments and industry work together to ensure that the infrastructure and systems that support the vehicles are set up and maintained."

In other words, the global automotive industry will supply cars capable of communicating with each other – and road infrastructure such as intelligent traffic light systems, for instance – but government has to pull its weight too, by introducing that connected infrastructure. By placing the onus on government to upgrade infrastructure, the FCAI and its members are effectively delaying the introduction of autonomous (self-driving) cars, since governments at state and federal level are notoriously slow to embark on major new road infrastructure projects.

Returning to the subject of AEB, Weber revealed that 29 per cent of new passenger cars sold in Australia are fitted with the life-saving technology, and 19 per cent of new SUVs are also fitted with it. Those stats put Australia on much the same footing as Europe, according to the FCAI boss.

"AEB is known to show a significant reduction in low speed rear-end crashes around the world and manufacturers selling vehicles in Australia are increasingly fitting this and other safety technology into the models they are bringing to the Australian market," Weber said.

The reason for the sudden interest in road safety and reducing the toll is the Senate Road Safety Inquiry, for which the FCAI has prepared a written submission. Clearly the inquiry has also drawn out ANCAP and the AMA, those two bodies having today launched a new campaign, 'Avoid the crash, Avoid the trauma'. Through this campaign, the AMA and ANCAP will jointly lobby for AEB, reiterating the demand last week that it be made mandatory.