You have, once or twice as a driver, looked away from the road to attend to other things briefly. However, inattentiveness when driving can have severe consequences, such as collisions. Between January and June 2025, Ghana experienced 7,289 road crashes, resulting in 1,504 fatalities, with 12,354 vehicles involved in accidents, and 8,300 injuries. Additionally, 1,301 pedestrians were knocked down across the country, according to provisional data from the National Road Safety Authority and the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department.
Undeniably, most of these incidents could have been avoided with the presence of technologies like Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), as some of these incidents occur as a result of a driver losing control of the brakes. Studies show that AEB systems can decrease the chance of accidents by more than 40%.
What is Automatic emergency braking, and how does it work?
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) was introduced in the early 2000s and detects potential dangers like other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. It uses sensors, cameras, and radar technology to detect hazards and respond accordingly. Some AEB systems are designed for city living and function up to 55 miles per hour, while others are designed for highway driving. Some systems offer enhanced braking, deployed forcefully after a driver puts their foot on the pedal.
Under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rule, AEB systems must stop when another vehicle is ahead, apply brakes up to 90 miles per hour if a crash is imminent, and detect pedestrians and automatically stop when traveling up to 45 miles per hour.
How does it help?
Auto braking (AEB) is an essential technology that lowers crash speeds, lowering the possibility of fatalities and serious injuries. Rear-end collisions with injuries are reduced by 53% when AEB and forward collision alert are combined, according to studies. When it comes to pickup trucks, which are less likely to have AEB installed, it also lowers rear-end collisions by 43%. This feature can save the lives of cyclists and pedestrians, lessen property damage, and save medical expenses. Except for the United States and China, 40 nations agreed in 2019 to require AEB systems in new automobiles due to the widespread recognition of their advantages, according to Raleigh Injury Law News.
Previously a high-end option for luxury vehicles, the technology is beginning to spread. For instance, Mazda and Nissan have promised that many of their most affordable vehicles will come equipped with AEB systems as standard.
However, auto braking systems have been connected to a phenomenon known as “phantom braking,” in which cars stop when there are no barriers in front of them. Automakers such as Tesla, Honda, General Motors, Mazda, and others have recalled their vehicles because of problems with their emergency braking systems.
In very rare cases, AEB systems have caused car accidents. Despite these concerns, the benefits of auto braking seem to outweigh the downsides, given the number of accidents they prevent.
