The Transportation Department projects the new rule could save 360 lives a year and prevent 24,000 injuries.

The Biden administration plans to require that all new cars and trucks come with pedestrian-collision avoidance systems that include automatic emergency braking technology by the end of the decade.

In an interview, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the requirement is designed to reduce pedestrian deaths, which have been on the rise in the post-Covid 19 era.

The new standards will require all cars to avoid contact at up to 62 mph and mandate that they must be able to detect pedestrians in the dark. They will also require braking at up to 45 mph when a pedestrian is detected.

The Transportation Department projects the rule could save 360 lives a year and prevent 24,000 injuries.

  • fireweed@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Or we could regulate vehicle size and reduce speed limits, two things actually proven to reduce pedestrian fatalities and that could be implemented today without waiting on future technological advancements

    ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

    • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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      7 months ago

      Speed limits suck at slowing people down. It’s much more effective to change the size and shape of roads. Slimmer roads, with roundabout’s and more pedestrian right of ways slow down cars.

      • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        They just made a 6 lane road that goes through commercial strip mall type area 30km/h when it used to be 50km/h. It’s for like 4 blocks with 50km/h on either side. Lights at all intersections.

        NO ONE goes 30km/h there, it’s the most insane thing ever.

        Side streets with no speed limits (which here makes it 50km/h) thats usually way too fast and most people will naturally go slower than 50 but not gonna lie, 30km/h on some of those also seems excessive.

        Add some speed bumps, narrow the street by adding side walks on both sides, and suddenly 30 feels fine.

      • jaspersgroove@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        Tell that to drivers in the Netherlands lol, holy fuck those guys love to haul ass down twisty 2 lane roads that are only 1.75 lanes wide. Still don’t understand how I never lost a side view mirror driving over there.

    • perviouslyiner@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      Don’t even need to reduce size - just reduce hood height (especially when it is unused space for “aesthetics”)

    • Delusional@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      And the technology sucks. I bought a new Subaru last year that has the auto-braking, it activated twice when it didn’t need to at all so I shut it off every time because it’s a fucking hazard.

      • WindyRebel@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Separate question, but what model and year? I’m considering a new forester to replace my 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe.

        • ShepherdPie
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          7 months ago

          My coworker has a '19 or '20 Legacy and complained about this same thing. He said it’s activated when speeding up behind a vehicle to pass it, cutting power just as he’s about to change lanes to go around.

            • xChronoZerox@lemmy.today
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              7 months ago

              Sounds like that driver could be like all the other angry “i gotta be in people’s assholes” drivers that are out and about these days. I have a 2024 Solterra and it doesn’t do anything that is being described, however I also leave plenty of space between me and the person in front of me.

              Seems the system could be working as intended ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ but they can all be disabled.

              • FurtiveFugitive@lemm.ee
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                7 months ago

                I’ve got a '19 Crosstrek and no issues here either. Yes occasionally the warning beeps at me. Usually it’s someone in front of me slowing down for a turn. From my experience, I know they’ll finish making the turn before I reach them and I don’t need to slow down. The system sees a car stopping in front of me and rightfully flashes the red light and beeps. I’ve never had it actually hit the brakes for me but then again, I try to leave plenty of space between me and other cars. My guess is this guy is speeding up to pass but getting way too close to the car in front of him to do it.