The European Commission has reached agreement with international partners on new internationally harmonised rules on Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) and Lane Departure Warning Systems (LDWS) for commercial vehicles.
The inclusion of these measures in the United Nations' International Agreement on vehicle construction will ensure that the same requirements are adopted not only by Europe, but also by other countries such as Japan, Russia and South Korea, hence reducing market entry barriers and facilitating trade between major automotive markets.
AEBS involves employing sensors to alert the driver when a vehicle is coming too close to the vehicle in front. If the driver does not react in time, the system automatically triggers emergency braking to prevent or reduce the impact of a collision. Such systems are particularly effective in situations where, for example, a heavy vehicle is approaching the rear of a traffic jam and its driver does not react in time or at all.
LDWS assist drivers in keeping to their lanes by emitting a warning when the vehicle is in danger of leaving the lane unintentionally, a situation mainly due to lack of driver attention. These systems are particularly useful in avoiding accidents caused by heavy duty vehicles leaving their lane, a major cause of casualties on motorways.