Would you want a vehicle safety system that could potentially save your life? In this day and age new technology helps you stay ahead of the curb – especially those emerging in new vehicles.

Welcome to the world of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)

To help keep you safe behind the wheel and on the road, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is a vehicle safety feature which aims to help make your car a safer driver than you.

The industry standard term AEB is also known as ‘city brake’, ‘city stop’ or ‘collision avoidance’. The system uses technologies such as radar, cameras or lasers – or a combination of these known as ‘sensor fusion technology’ – to help identify other objects in your vehicle’s path.

When the AEB system senses a potential collision and you don’t respond in time, it helps by stepping in to automatically break for you to avoid a possible crash. Some AEB systems can also identify pedestrians and surroundings.

Generally, this technology is adapted for vehicles travelling at low speeds of 50km/h, but some AEB systems can also reduce the collision impact at higher speeds of 80km/h or more, helping to either avoid a collision or reduce the severity of a crash.

Why is AEB important?

The saying goes: prevention is better than cure – and that’s exactly why AEB is important. AEB is a primary safety system that helps stop collisions from happening rather than addressing the damage after it’s been done.

Thankfully, AEB is equipped in most new vehicles and not only does it help prevent a collision, it can also save money in repairs if an incident were to occur.

Chris Emerson, Road Safety Expert at the NRMA Insurance Research Centre said owning a vehicle that includes AEB not only helps avoid potential collisions, but most importantly, helps keep everyone safer on the road.

“Our data shows that many rear-end vehicle collisions on our roads are at low speeds, so having AEB may help prevent these types of collisions or reduce the collision’s impact,” Mr Emerson said.

How is AEB tested at the NRMA Insurance Research Centre?

The team at our NRMA Insurance Research Centre uses international testing protocols to examine new vehicles entering the market and have been testing and researching AEB since it first appeared on the Australian market. AEB testing is part of the suite of assessments performed on new vehicles at the NRMA Insurance Research Centre, known collectively as New Vehicle Evaluations.

Tested at the Western Sydney International Dragway at Eastern Creek, NSW, the NRMA Insurance Research Centre team uses two different targets to test a vehicle’s AEB system without the risk of injury or damage to the vehicle.

These AEB tests are preformed to allow NRMA Insurance to be at the forefront of car safety technology and to better understand how these new systems work and what risks they present. The findings of these tests also help provide honest feedback to manufacturers.

Consider buying a car with AEB technology

It’s no secret that AEB is now a proven safety system, so if you’re a driver who owns a vehicle with this safety feature, you’re less likely to get into a crash and have less risk behind the wheel. If your vehicle doesn’t have an AEB system, the next time you’re looking for a new car you should make sure it’s one of the included safety features.