Biden Administration Announces Mandatory Pedestrian-Collision Avoidance Systems for New Cars by 2030

The Biden administration intends to mandate that all new cars and trucks come equipped with pedestrian-collision avoidance systems featuring automatic emergency braking technology by the end of 2030. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg disclosed this in an interview, asserting it will decrease pedestrian fatalities which have been on the rise since the pandemic era began. The regulation would require cars to prevent collisions at speeds up to 62 miles per hour and detect pedestrians even in low light conditions while braking is mandatory when a pedestrian is detected at speeds of up to 45 mph. According to Buttigieg, this technology saves lives; “Automatic emergency braking prevents collisions. And collisions kill people — it’s that simple,” he said. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an industry trade group representing automakers, stated they couldn’t comment directly as they hadn’t seen the new rule but affirmed automatic emergency breaking has been “game changing” and manufacturers have voluntarily committed to installing them in their vehicles. However, J.D Power survey data showed consumers found it intrusive when technology interferes unnecessarily while driving due to its sensitivity or lack of consistency with driver reactions. Buttigieg acknowledged the need for further development; “We’re allowing a few years for this technology to be refined,” he said and highlighted that errors in such features might be disheartening since lives could have been saved if they were more reliable. The Transportation Department estimates 360 deaths annually will result from implementing these standards, with an additional 24,000 injuries prevented each year as well. In contrast to the $82 estimated price hike for a new vehicle due to this requirement, Buttigieg stated that it’s worth saving lives; “If there’s a technology that is this lifesaving … we don’t want [it] to be only available to those who can afford it as a bell and whistle,” he said.