A new study shows that drivers in Montana and across the nation benefit more than initially suspected from automatic emergency braking systems. Researchers from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety conducted the study, and they looked at 10 different models of General Motors vehicles from 2013 to 2015 that were equipped with an automatic braking system. The study included both small and large cars, mid-sized vehicles and full-sized SUVs.
Automatic braking systems typically prevent motor vehicle accidents in two ways. A braking alert system warns a driver about a possible crash. The emergency brake system alerts the driver about a possible crash and applies the brakes to their fullest capacity. The study indicates that vehicles equipped with both alert and automatic braking systems work best to prevent accidents. Vehicles with the systems were involved in 43 percent fewer rear-end accidents, 64 percent fewer crashes with injuries of all types and 68 percent fewer collisions that involved third-party injuries when compared to vehicles without the automatic emergency braking systems.
Front-to-rear accidents, also known as “rear endings,” accounted for approximately 33 percent of all vehicle accidents that occurred in 2016. This amounts to 2.4 million accidents across the nation. Researchers hope to next look at the effect of automatic emergency braking systems for reducing pedestrian accidents.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 40,000 people die each year as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Many of these deaths occurred in accidents with a driver who drove while under the influence or who was distracted. A distracted driver who causes an accident may be liable for those injured in the collision. A lawyer may be able to file a lawsuit on behalf of the victim in order for him or her to receive damages for medical bills and lost wages.
