Automatic Emergency Braking and Your Insurance

Travelling along the 401, you notice an awful accident on the opposite side of the highway, you just cannot help but look; it is human nature, and it is quite dangerous. Suddenly your car slams on the brakes! What just happened? Your car sensed an imminent chance for a collision with the car in front of you and took matters into its own hands (or brakes).

Yet another step towards autonomous driving in the name of safety, automatic emergency braking (AEB) is coming to a car near you. This technology has the potential to prevent a crash or reduce the impact speed of a crash.

Automatic Emergency Braking is a road safety system that uses sensors to detect possible front-end collisions. AEB is always scanning, using radar, cameras and lasers to determine if you are about to hit the car ahead of you, a pedestrian or other large object, like say a moose.

Photo by alberta.ca

This system will come into action if it detects a potential emergency situation. The system first alerts the driver by way of a warning – usually a sound alert – then the system will apply the brakes harder and faster than the driver could.

Automatic Emergency Braking could save you money on your car insurance

In a precedent setting move, Aviva has announced that it is offering a 15% discount on car insurance for owners of a vehicle equipped with automatic emergency braking systems, a discount that went into effect in December 2016 in Ontario. Using the tagline “Prevention Pays Off”, Aviva is offering the discount, which will be applied to the policy after you purchase a vehicle equipped with AEB. Don’t worry, unlike the Winter Tire Discount you do not need to notify us if you have a vehicle using automatic emergency braking as it is built directly into the VIN# of the vehicle and is automatically rated with the discount!

It is important to note that this technology cannot be retrofitted to your vehicle – it is a feature that is factory installed only.

Common Causes for Rear-End Collisions

• Follow-too close – section 158 of the Highway Traffic Act – there is a reason this is against the traffic laws; it is a leading cause of rear-end collisions. AEB will detect if you are too close to the vehicle ahead of you and warn you to back off.
• Distracted driving – this includes more than texting (although that occurs far too often!), eating, rubbernecking and distractions by passengers all take the drivers eyes off the road.
• Poor weather – snow, sleet, ice covered roadways, even standing water can prevent a driver from stopping in time (reminder not to use cruise in poor weather).
• Speed – of course, slow down.
• Impaired – the use of drugs or alcohol significantly decreases reaction times for the driver.

The technology we see in vehicles is advancing more and more each and every day to try and make our world of transportation more efficient and safer. The AEB system is impressive but as with all technology it is not perfect. It is important to remember that even with the AEB system, you, the driver, always have complete responsibility for the vehicle at all times.