The benefits of rear automatic braking systems are the subject of a recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. What the institute has to say about this and other safety features should be of interest to drivers in Kentucky regardless of whether their vehicles are equipped with them or not.
The IIHS studied the rate of backup collisions among vehicles with rear automatic braking systems and found that it was 62 percent lower than among unequipped vehicles. The crash rate was 78 percent lower when rear automatic braking was combined with rearview cameras and sensors.
The purpose of the system is to alert drivers to obstacles behind them and then applies the brakes automatically to slow down or stop the vehicle if the driver does not react in time. These systems are mostly meant to prevent vehicle collisions, so it may take time before they’re able to better detect pedestrians. Only 5 percent of new vehicles offer the system as an optional feature. By 2022, front automatic braking will become standard for most vehicles, not rear automatic braking.
In May 2018, rearview cameras will become mandatory on all new vehicles manufactured in the U.S. This measure has encouraged some automakers to add automatic braking and backup warning sensors as well.
Even when they are in place, the systems can never be 100 percent accurate, so a lot continues to depend on the attentiveness of the driver. When individuals are distracted or drowsy, they can cause car accidents and, moreover, be held liable for any losses the victims incur. The injured parties, for their part, can hire a lawyer who focuses on auto accident law. After investigators gather the police reports and other evidence showing how the other driver was negligent, an attorney can negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company, litigating as a last resort.