Subaru hots up push for standard AEB

Different car-makers have different names for it, but autonomous low-speed collision-avoidance systems (Autonomous Emergency Braking, or AEB) are being embraced by the car-buying public – even when they have to pay more for it.

Japanese importer Subaru announced recently that its EyeSight AEB system is proving something of a hit, with the technology featuring on 43 per cent of the 21,659 new cars it sold in the first half of 2015.

Of the 9965 vehicles sold with EyeSight so far this year, 3934 were Outbacks, 3910 were Foresters and 2121 were Liberty models, where it is standard equipment.

Following the introduction of Volvo’s City Safety autonomous braking in 2008, many others have jumped aboard with similar AEB systems using radar, lasers or cameras to detect an imminent crash.

Among the car-makers offering AEB on at least one of their models are Audi, BMW, Citroen, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Mitsubishi, Skoda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.

This is not good enough, according to ANCAP and the Australian Medical Association who are pushing jointly for the adoption of AEB as standard on all new cars sold in Australia. See below for a video explaining how AEB works.

Speaking at the launch of the combined AMA/ANCAP 'Avoid the crash, Avoid the trauma' campaign in August this year, AMA President Professor Brian Owler called on the Australian government to help the push towards mandatory AEB.

"Governments have an important role to play, especially in working with the car industry to make cars safer, preferably by making life-saving technology like AEB standard features in all new cars.

"Vehicle technologies such as AEB can help reduce road trauma at a much faster rate than we are seeing now," he said.

ANCAP's Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Clarke noted that while Europe, Japan, and the USA are adopting AEB as standard, Australian motorists are seeing it either as a costly option, or as unavailable.

The AMA and ANCAP have suggested a five-point governmental approach towards standardising AEB:

•    redirecting car manufacturer subsidies into programs that will facilitate the faster introduction of AEB;
•    supporting a nationwide AEB consumer awareness program;
•    updating its fleet purchasing policy to include AEB;
•    appointing a dedicated Road Safety Minister; and
•    putting pressure on manufacturers to include AEB as a standard feature on all new cars.

The AMA and ANCAP observed that technologies like AEB "could be as effective as seatbelts in saving lives".

Road trauma costs the Australian community an estimated $27 billion a year, or the equivalent of the current Defence budget. And AEB is not just a life-saver: It can save money on insurance premiums too. Subaru says EyeSight brings premium reductions from insurers such as Allianz and IAG.