Organisation: Thatcham Research
Date uploaded: 7th April 2014
Date published/launched: March 2014
Thatcham Research, the insurance industry’s automotive research centre, goes on to say that over 10 years such an incentive would save 1,220 lives and nearly 136,000 casualties.
At a briefing at the House of Commons on 25 March 2014, Peter Shaw, chief executive of Thatcham Research, said that in the UK cars equipped with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) have 18% fewer third party injury claims. Mr Shaw said that similar studies from the USA highlighted a 26% reduction in injuries, and in Switzerland and Sweden front/rear crashes have been cut by 31% and 48% respectively.
Thatcham has launched a new campaign, ‘Stop the Crash’, which asks the Treasury to introduce and fund a £500 incentive for people choosing to buy a new car with AEB fitted. It claims that this would result in 100% of the UK new car fleet being fitted with AEB by 2025 which could avoid more than 17,000 deaths and serious injuries on the UK’s roads.
Thatcham says that currently around 23% of new cars have AEB available as optional or standard fit – but less than 10% of cars sold have it fitted. Insurers recognise the benefits, with AEB-fitted cars given a rating of as much as five groups lower than their counterparts, and potentially saving up to 10% on insurance premiums.
Thatcham also says that auto-brake safety not only prevents or reduces the impact for the driver, but the more advanced systems can prevent injury to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
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