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Automatic Emergency Braking to Be Standard on All New Vehicles by 2029 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on April 29 announced it has finalized a new rule that will make automatic emergency braking (AEB), including pedestrian AEB, standard on all passenger cars and light trucks by September 2029, in a bid to significantly reduce rear-end and pedestrian crashes. NHTSA projects the new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard will save at least 360 lives a year and prevent at least 24,000 injuries annually.
contact with a vehicle in front of them up to 62 mph, and that the systems must detect pedestrians in both daylight and darkness. In addition, the standard requires the system apply the brakes automatically up to 90 mph when a collision with a lead vehicle is imminent, and up to 45 mph when a pedestrian is detected. This final rule applies to vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or less, which includes nearly all U.S. light vehicles.
42 YEARS
Vol. 42 / Issue 6 / June 2024 REGIONAL NEWS
Oregon Passes Right To Repair Law Excluding Auto Industry By Abby Andrews Autobody News
Oregon signed into law March 27 a bill targeting the longevity and repairability of consumer electronics. The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025, but will not be enforced until July 1, 2027, prohibits companies from mandating that electronic equipment parts be unlocked with encrypted software checks before they can be fully functional. It also requires manufacturers to make parts, tools and repair manuals available to consumers and thirdparty repairers. This move is hailed by consumer advocates as a major victory for owners of electronic devices, who
will now have greater access to repair options, potentially reducing costs and extending the life of their devices. The law explicitly excludes other goods, like video game consoles, medical devices, HVAC equipment, solar panels, electric toothbrushes — and automobiles. Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), said the new legislation did not need to include automobiles because it is “bringing the options that already exist in the collision repair space to other industries.” “From what I can see, the Oregon bill — similar to other digital right to repair bills we’ve seen in other states l CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
REGIONAL NEWS
NWACA Hosts Successful 2nd Annual Collision Training Expo AEB systems use sensors to detect when a vehicle is close to crashing into a vehicle or pedestrian in front and automatically applies the brakes if the driver has not. Pedestrian AEB technology will detect a pedestrian in both daylight and in darker conditions at night. The NHTSA said the new standard will significantly reduce injury or property damage and associated costs from these crashes. The new standard requires all cars be able to stop and avoid
The vast majority of light vehicles sold in the U.S. already come equipped with the feature. In December 2023, it was announced 20 automakers had fulfilled a voluntary pledge they signed in 2016 to equip nearly all the light vehicles they produce for the U.S. market with AEB. The list included Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM and Stellantis. That pledge had been brokered by the NHTSA and the
By Abby Andrews Autobody News
The Northwest Auto Care Alliance (NWACA) recently held its second annual Collision Training Expo (CTE) 2024, May 3-4 at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, WA. After a well-attended single-day inaugural event in 2023, organizers expanded it to two days of handson training, panel discussions and a trade show.
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Several hands-on classes were held during this year’s Collision Training Expo
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 18
16
Columnist Mike Anderson: Battery Reconnects Lead Police to Visit Shop 3 Times Until Solution Found Columnist Abby Andrews: Car Insurance, Repair Cost Increases Far
Outpace Overall Rate
4
Columnist Stacey Phillips Ronak: Talent Acquisition Program Leaders
8
Columnist John Yoswick: Associations Working to Enact State Laws
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