Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems, now standard in all new vehicles, are designed to automatically apply the brakes when a potential collision is detected and the driver does not respond quickly enough. However, research from an independent safety institute has highlighted a concerning limitation of these systems: they may have difficulty detecting reflective objects.

In a series of tests, researchers evaluated the performance of AEB systems in three popular SUV models traveling at a speed of 25 mph. The tests involved a crash test dummy that was outfitted with reflective strips and dressed in a high-visibility jacket.

The results revealed that two of the vehicles collided with the dummy while it was wearing reflective strips. Additionally, one model failed to slow down when the dummy wore a high-visibility jacket. Only one vehicle was able to slow down in most tests, except when the dummy had reflective strips under very low light conditions.

These findings indicate that automotive manufacturers need to refine their pedestrian AEB systems. The study underscores a significant issue: safety gear, such as reflective clothing designed to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and road workers, may actually make them less visible to advanced safety technology.

"This unexpected weakness in crash avoidance systems is a major cause for concern," said a spokesperson for the research institute. "It's counterintuitive that safety features designed to protect people may be less effective when those people are wearing safety gear."

One of the automakers involved responded, stating, "Road safety is our top priority. Our engineering teams are constantly working to enhance our crash avoidance technologies. We will use these test results to improve our systems, with a particular focus on low-light scenarios involving pedestrians."

The other automakers have not yet responded to requests for comment. This research highlights the need for further development of AEB systems to ensure they can reliably detect pedestrians, regardless of the reflective materials they may wear.