The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called on automakers to install collision avoidance systems in all new vehicles in hopes to avoid injuries and fatalities in rear-end collisions.
According to research conducted by the NTSB, around 1,700 people were killed in rear-end accidents, and another half a million were injured in 2012 alone. A 63-page report prepared by the NTSB went on to say that “Currently available forward collision avoidance technologies for passenger and commercial vehicles still show clear benefits that could reduce rear-end crash fatalities.”
In 2014, only four out of 684 passenger vehicles were equipped with a standard complete forward collision avoidance system, though others offered the technology as an expensive option. These systems use radar, lasers, and cameras to detect crash situations, and will either signal the driver with noise or vibrations, or will apply the brakes automatically.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) requires this technology to be eligible for a Top Safety Pick+ designation, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has listed this technology as a recommendation (whenever available) in its star rating system.
While the recommendations of the NTSB are not binding, the board has stated its displeasure with federal auto regulators who haven’t heeded their recommendations to require the collision avoidance system.
This article originally appeared on MSN.
