Insurer-funded Thatcham has tested three auto manufacturers’ collision avoidance technologies, and the U.K. research center claimed last month that they could prevent more than 125,000 injuries a year in England.
Thatcham tested Volvo’s City Safety, Mercedes’ Distronic Plus and Honda’s Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS). All three systems use radar to mitigate or prevent low-speed collisions.
City Safety will be standard on Volvo’s upcoming XC60 in November. Before an imminent collision, a windshield-mounted laser radar applies the car’s brakes and cuts the throttle. City Safety, which is active at up to 20 mph, can prevent collisions entirely at speeds below 10 mph.
Mercedes offers Distronic Plus on some of its S-class models. Two radar detectors linked to the car’s cruise control maintain safe following distances and can completely stop the car.
Currently used on Honda’s CR-V, CMBS uses radar to warn the driver visually and audibly before progressively activating the car’s brakes. The system tightens seat belts before an imminent collision.