NTSB says collision avoidance systems should be standard in cars

WASHINGTON – Automakers should immediately include as standard equipment in all new cars and commercial trucks systems that automatically brake or warn drivers to avoid rear-end collisions, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a report released Monday.

The systems could prevent or mitigate more than 80 percent of the rear-end collisions that cause about 1,700 deaths and a half-million injuries annually, the report said. There are about 1.7 million rear-end crashes each year in the U.S.

Some of the collision-avoidance systems issue a warning to drivers that a collision is imminent, but do not automatically brake. The board recommended manufacturers begin by making a warning system standard, and then add automatic emergency braking after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration completes standards for it.

The board has recommended adoption of collision-avoidance systems or other steps to encourage their use a dozen times over the past 20 years, but the report called progress “very limited.” Only four of 684 passenger vehicle models in 2014 included automatic braking systems as a standard feature: the Mercedes-Benz G Class 4X4, an SUV; the Subaru Forester and Outback, also SUVs, and the Subaru Legacy, a midsize sedan.

When the systems are offered as options they are typically on high-end vehicles like Cadillac, Infiniti and Lexus models and are often bundled with nonsafety features like heated seats or faux leather interiors, making the overall package more expensive.

“You don’t pay extra for your seatbelt,” NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart said in a statement. “And you shouldn’t have to pay extra for technology that can help prevent a collision.”

But the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers said collision avoidance systems should remain optional.

“There are almost two dozen driver assists on sale now, and some consumers may prefer a 360 degree camera view or parking assist,” Gloria Bergquist, vice president of the Alliance, said in an email. “Automakers see automatic braking as helpful to consumers, but consumers should decide what they want and need.”