Feature · 3 min read
Autonomous Emergency Braking Explained
Automatically applies the brakes if the car detects an imminent collision.
What is AEB?
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is a safety system that can apply the brakes for you if it spots an imminent crash and you haven't reacted in time.
How does it work?
Forward-facing cameras and/or radar continuously measure the distance and closing speed to objects ahead. If a collision looks unavoidable, the car first warns you (visual and audible). If you still don't brake, it applies the brakes itself — often hard enough to avoid the crash or significantly reduce its severity.
What does it feel like?
Most drivers never trigger it. When it does fire, it feels sudden and forceful — the car brakes harder and faster than most people would, sometimes with seat-belt pre-tensioning.
Benefits
- ✓Helps prevent low-speed urban crashes
- ✓Reduces injury severity in higher-speed impacts
- ✓Required on most new EU cars since 2024
- ✓Many systems now also detect pedestrians and cyclists
Limitations
AEB can be fooled by very low contrast targets, heavy weather or dirty sensors. It is a safety net — not a reason to drive less attentively.