An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study of General Motors vehicles with optional front crash prevention systems adds to the evidence that forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking prevent crashes. GM vehicles with autobrake and forward collision warning had 43 percent fewer police-reported front-to-rear crashes of all severities and 64 percent fewer front-to-rear […]
Nissan to Offer standard Automatic Emergency Braking on One Million U.S. vehicles in MY2018
More than doubles the number of AEB-equipped Nissan vehicles versus 2017 model year. Nissan announced that it is making Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) standard on a projected one million vehicles sold in the United States for model year 2018, including seven of the company’s most popular models – Rogue/Rogue Sport, Altima, Murano, LEAF, Pathfinder, Maxima […]
NHTSA Closes Investigation into Tesla AutoPilot Crash
Office of Defect investigation finds no safety-related defect trends. Data shows 40 percent reduction in crash rates for Tesla vehicles after introduction of autosteer. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) yesterday released a report and closed its investigation into 2014-2016 Tesla Model S and X […]
National Transportation Safety Board, National Safety Council Plan Expert Panel on Technology’s Role in Eliminating Crashes
Transportation safety leaders, including vehicle manufacturers, insurers and regulators to discuss the future and potential of driver assistance technologies On October 27, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Safety Council (NSC) have scheduled to an expert panel of government officials, car manufacturers, researchers, automobile media groups, industry associations, and safety advocates to discuss driver […]
Tesla Upgrading AutoPilot to Rely More on Radar
In a blog post yesterday, Tesla Motors announced it will be releasing an upgrade to its Autopilot software. According to Tesla, version 8 of its software will use more advanced signal processing of its onboard radar. According to the post, “The radar was added to all Tesla vehicles in October 2014 as part of the […]
AAA Tests Show Automatic Emergency Braking Systems Vary Significantly
Research highlights difference between systems designed to prevent crashes versus those designed to just lessen the severity of a crash. New test results from AAA reveal that automatic emergency braking systems, the safety technology that will soon be standard equipment on 99 percent of vehicles, vary widely in design and performance. All the systems tested […]
Tesla on Autopilot Involved in Fatal Crash
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opens investigation into fatal crash involving Tesla in Autopilot mode. Tesla Motors announced in a blog post last week that on of its Model S vehicles operating in Autopilot mode was involved in a fatal crash in Florida during May. According to the June 30 blog post, “We learned yesterday […]
J.D. Power Study Shows Consumer Interest Builds for Automated Vehicle Technologies
Young consumers are much more trusting in automotive technology. Will help drive acceptance of crash avoidance technology and automated vehicles. Trust in automation technology is very much age dependent, as younger consumers have a notably higher level of confidence in the technology than their older counterparts, according to the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Tech Choice […]
UN Calls for Active Safety Systems to Be Standard Equipment in Automobiles
Measure promotes the adoption of active safety systems such as electronic stability control and autonomous emergency braking. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution which represents the strongest ever commitment on road safety made by UN Member States. The resolution supports the ambitious road safety targets now included in the Global Goals for Sustainable […]
Moody’s Sees Short Term Gain, Long Term Challenge for Auto Insurers from Self-Driving Cars
A new report from Moody’s Investors Service says that accident avoidance features in vehicles, such as automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure prevention will lead to lower accident frequency in the next five-to-ten years, a benefit for auto insurers. Longer term, however, self-driving cars could translate into significantly lower premiums and profits for […]