From 2014, all cars tested by Euro NCAP will need to be fitted with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in order to achieve the full five star rating.
AEB prevents accidents by warning the driver of an imminent crash and then, if the crash is unavoidable, applying the brakes automatically to limit the severity of the accident.
While real-world data suggests that AEB can reduce the number of road accidents by up to 27%, 79% of cars sold in Europe are not offered with the technology, and only 66% of car manufacturers fit the system to at least some of their new models.
Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP said, "A faster penetration of these technologies into new cars will make it more realistic for the European Union to reach its target to cut road deaths by 50% by 2020."
Research carried out by Euro NCAP shows that premium brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Infiniti are the manufacturers most likely to fit AEB systems to their cars as standard, followed by Jaguar, Audi, Land Rover and Lexus when fitment as an optional extra is taken into consideration.
Euro NCAP is calling on the European authorities to make the addition of AEB to future models mandatory.
