Would you pay more for new car options with a proven chance of avoiding accidents? Apparently, most consumers won’t. A recent survey shows that only 8 percent of respondents own cars with automatic emergency braking — the most crucial new safety feature.
That’s leading Nissan to make automatic emergency braking standard, with no extra charge, on the estimated 1 million vehicles it will sell in the U.S. as 2018 models. This will cover seven of the most popular Nissan models: Rogue and Rogue Sport, Altima, Murano, Leaf, Pathfinder, Maxima and Sentra.
“Making auto braking standard is a big step forward in safety, said Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have grown increasingly dismayed at the lack of consumer interest in purchasing optional safety equipment despite its proven ability to save lives.”
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) uses radar technology to monitor how close your vehicle is to the one ahead. If a potential crash is detected, a warning is sounded and brakes automatically applied. NHTSA data show that one-third of all accidents reported to the police involve rear-end crashes.
Read more of the original article at CBS News.
