USA Today article: "Auto Braking Systems"

Interesting article in the USA Today (052914) on various vehicle manufacturers automatic braking systems.

Report: Auto-braking more available
It also works better, but some systems don’t fully stop cars
James R. Healey and Fred Meier


USA TODAY Some cars that advertise automatic brakes really can stop the vehicle in time to prevent crashes


— and there are enough of them that the insurance industry safety tester is issuing report cards on them.


The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, well-known for its crash-test ratings, now is performing non-crash tests and rating increasingly available (standard or optional) front-crash avoidance systems. The first test was last September, followed by another late last year. The latest score card, announced today, is for large and midsize vehicles.


Of 24 tested this time, eight got the highest rating — superior — by automatically stopping the cars in time to prevent crashes at both 12 mph and 25 mph. The others were rated “advanced” or “basic” for their front-crash prevention


The lowest score — basic — went to cars with auto-braking systems that don’t fully stop the cars in time, but at least minimize the impact, IIHS says.


A vehicle no longer can qualify for IIHS’ top overall rating — Top Safety Pick + — unless it meets all the other crash test criteria and gets at least a basic rating in front-crash prevention. Automakers who get that “+” rating advertise it heavily, and IIHS is tightening its standards to require increasingly better crash-prevention scores to get the “+” part of the rating.


Exotic not long ago, optional self-stopping systems have migrated to small, modest-price sedans such as Mazda3 and Honda Civic, are offered in more family sedans such as Chevrolet Malibu and Subaru Legacy, and are easy to find among crossover SUVs such as Mitsubishi Outlander, GMC Terrain and Toyota Highlander.


“This technology is moving into the market surprisingly quickly. It’s good to see,” says David Zuby, IIHS chief research officer.


“It can get very confusing” because the systems are sold under many different names, Zuby says. Examples: Audi has “Pre-Sense Front;” BMW has a variety of systems, including “Collision Warning with City Braking;” and General Motors’ system names include “Automatic Collision Preparation” and “Collision Miti gation Braking.”


More than 90 vehicle models now have or offer systems that are designed to stop the car when a crash is imminent, even if the driver’s foot isn’t on the brake pedal. The systems use a variety of cameras, radars and lasers to compute when a car is getting too close, too fast, to a car ahead.


Typically, auto-brake systems warn the driver with a flashing light or audible alarm, then hit the brakes if the driver doesn’t respond. Some merely slow the car to minimize the crash impact; others will stop it at low speeds. The best, in IIHS’ view, prevent a crash altogether in the institute’s 12 mph and 25 mph tests approaching a balloon barrier.


Often part of expensive options packages, auto-brake systems not only can raise the price of your car but, ironically, also the price of your insurance.


Because the systems are very expensive to repair when they don’t prevent a crash, some insurers charge more for cars with auto-brake.


But, Zuby says, “We know some insurers offer discounts. There’s no rule of thumb.”

INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY




A test vehicle approaches a stationary balloon target and brakes autonomously to avoid or mitigate a front collision. Tests were conducted on 24 vehicles.


Best at stopping before a crash
These are the eight vehicles getting top ratings in IIHS testing of 24 large and midsize vehicles for their ability prevent or mitigate front crashes with their standard or optional auto-braking systems:


2014 BMW 5 series (Collision Warning with braking function) 2014 BMW X5 (Collision Warning with braking function) 2015 Hyundai Genesis (Automatic Emergency Braking) 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Pre-Safe Brake) 2014 Buick Regal (Automatic Collision Preparation) 2014 Cadillac CTS (Automatic Collision Preparation) 2014 Cadillac XTS (Automatic Collision Preparation) 2014 Chevrolet Impala (Collision Mitigation Braking)