NHTSA To Consider AEB System Errors on Sure Cascadias
A Freightliner Cascadia. (Daimler AG)
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The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration has launched a preliminary analysis right into a collection of complaints involving automated emergency braking system errors on sure Freightliner Cascadia vans.
The announcement comes at a time during which the Federal Motor Service Security Administration and NHTSA have launched a proposed rule mandating using automated emergency braking techniques on heavy vans.
NHTSA’s Workplace of Defects Investigation has acquired 18 questionnaires that allege “errors within the automated emergency braking system” on sure 2017-2022 Freightliner Cascadias.
“Drivers report activation of the AEB with out an precise roadway impediment, often known as a false-positive occasion,” a NHTSA report mentioned. “The studies point out the topic automobile will apply the service brakes with out warning or enter from the motive force. The purposes vary from momentary, partial software with little lack of pace to full software, which brings the automobile to an entire cease within the journey lane.”
The questionnaires are entered into the company’s consumer-complaint database, and forwarded to NHTSA technical workers for analysis.
Freightliner is a model of Daimler Truck North America, which is cooperating with NHTSA on the analysis.
“Daimler Truck North America is absolutely dedicated to the event of life-saving applied sciences resembling automated emergency braking which have the potential to tremendously enhance roadway security,” DTNA mentioned via a spokesperson. “The corporate shares the identical mission as NHTSA to scale back deadly crashes and severe accidents, and appears ahead to continued collaboration with the company to overview AEB know-how and the upcoming regulation and take a look at procedures which are being developed for the business by NHTSA.”
The company mentioned its Automobile Analysis and Check Heart examined a Freightliner Cascadia AEB-equipped automobile. “Through the metal trench plate situation, the automobile initiated laborious braking when the plate was detected,” the report mentioned. A metal trench plate is a big steel rectangle used to patch a gap within the roadway.
“I might say these are a recognized problem for collision detection, as a result of they’re excellent at reflecting radar indicators,” mentioned Kevin Grove, director of security and know-how coverage for American Trucking Associations, concerning the plates. “Some techniques deal with it higher than others, and it is a matter if it brakes laborious sufficient or lengthy sufficient. A false alert with little or no braking is an issue for driver belief and acceptance however most likely wouldn’t be a security concern for NHTSA.”
NHTSA declined remark for this story, saying it doesn’t touch upon open investigations. Nonetheless, in its report it famous, “DTNA acknowledged that the metal trench plate was not consultant of real-world driving. This preliminary analysis has been opened to judge the difficulty and decide whether or not the alleged defect creates an unreasonable threat to security.”
Prime FMCSA officers in April mentioned the company additionally plans to introduce rulemaking proposals for heavy automobile pace limiters, secure integration of automated driving techniques and a security health rule to determine unfit motor carriers.
In Might, NHTSA introduced an NPRM to require AEB techniques on passenger automobiles and lightweight vans. The proposed rule is predicted to dramatically cut back crashes related to pedestrians and rear-end crashes.
NHTSA initiatives that the proposed rule, if finalized, would save at the very least 360 lives a 12 months and cut back accidents by at the very least 24,000 yearly. As well as, the AEB techniques would lead to reductions in property harm attributable to rear-end crashes. Many crashes can be prevented altogether, it added, whereas others can be much less damaging.
