Over half of new cars sport autonomous safety tech, says UK's auto body
29 Mar 2016
Over half of the UK's new cars now incorporate some form of autonomous safety technology.
According to the UK-based Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), a record number of cars incorporated autonomous emergency braking, cruise control that adapted its speed to maintain a safe distance from the car in front, as also warning systems that told drivers if they were about to collide.
According to the society's projections, the prevalence of autonomous technology in cars would prevent 25,000 serious accidents and save 2,500 lives a year by 2030.
The most popular vehicle safety device was the collision warning system, which normally comprised a series of cameras and lasers that monitored obstacles in a car's way and alerted the driver with a beep if they were close to colliding. In 2015 58.1 per cent of new cars were fitted with the devices, as against only 6.8 per cent in 2010.
According to the estimates of the SMMT, investment in new driving technologies would boost the UK economy by £51 billion annually and create 320,000 new jobs by 2030. It also predicts that the annual savings for consumers could be as high as £41 billion in the next decade, as autonomous safety additions meant drivers could multi-task when driving, and save money on fuel, insurance and parking.
According to estimates savings to consumers by the end of the next decade could be as high as £40 billion, with motorists able to multi-task while in the car, getting to their destinations more quickly and saving money on fuel, insurance and parking.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT said, "Fully driver-less cars are still a long way off from everyday use, but this data shows advanced autonomous technology is already making its way into the majority of new cars.
"The UK is already earning a reputation as a global development hub in this field, thanks to significant industry and government investment, and the ability to trial these cars on the roads right now."
