By 2029, nearly all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the U.S. must be equipped with automatic emergency braking systems, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Monday, April 29. This regulation — part of the 2021 infrastructure law — aims to save at least 360 lives and prevent 24,000 injuries annually.
The decision follows a rise in traffic fatalities post-COVID-19 lockdowns, despite a recent 3.6% drop in road deaths in 2023.
Carmakers have claimed that NHTSA rules requiring cars with automatic brakes to completely avoid contact with objects or people at high speeds were impractical.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the automatic braking mandate “will save hundreds of lives.”
“We’re living through a crisis in roadway deaths,” Buttigieg said. “So we need to do something about it.”
The new rule also sets performance standards for these systems, requiring them to detect pedestrians in both daylight and at night, and to function effectively at speeds up to 90 mph.
The Associated Press reported that while around 90% of new vehicles now include automatic braking as a standard feature under a voluntary agreement with automakers, there are currently no performance standards in place. This means some systems may not be very effective.
Some smaller manufacturers have until September 2030 to comply.
