Martin Saarinen

Fitting AEB as standard would help curb increase in fatalities on UK roads

“Research has shown there’s clearly more the car industry can do to prevent accidents”

THE car industry’s ambitions for a zero-accident future are well known. Brands are working with safety experts to develop tech that will eliminate accidents in years to come. This is happening at an important time, because the number of UK road fatalities rose in 2016 to a five-year high.

But recent research has shown there’s clearly more the car industry can be doing in the immediate future to prevent accidents; and this is by offering life-saving kit such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard on all new models.

According to Thatcham Research, the UK insurance industry’s research body, several brands don’t fit AEB as standard across their line-ups, which is a shame given the tech has been proven to reduce collisions by 38 per cent. Just seven per cent of Ford’s current model range has AEB fitted as standard, while only 14 per cent of Vauxhall’s line-up is specified with the system.

Premium manufacturers do better, however, with Land Rover and Volvo offering every single car in their ranges with AEB included, while the set-up is fitted to 88 per cent of Mercedes’ models.

For those who think that kit such as AEB is fine as an extra, Thatcham’s research shows that take-up of optional safety packs is below three per cent. So if it isn’t included as standard, then it’s unlikely to be bought by the consumer. Yes, cars will be a little more expensive to buy when sold as standard with AEB, but surely the cost of road accidents, severe injuries and even death is higher?