Mandating Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB) for light vehicles was identified as a priority in Future Steps of the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 (NRSS) as well as a Priority Action of the National Road Safety Action Plan 2018-2020 (NRSAP).
Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Hogan MP, signed two new Australian Design Rules (ADR) 98/00 – Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB) for Passenger Vehicles and Light Goods Vehicles and ADR 98/01 – Advanced Emergency Braking for Passenger Vehicles and Light Goods Vehicles on 25 October 2021.
The new ADRs were published on the Federal Register of Legislation (FRL) on 5 November 2021:
- Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 98/00 – Advanced Emergency Braking for Passenger Vehicles and Light Goods Vehicles) 2021 (legislation.gov.au) for AEB systems capable of detecting collisions with other vehicles (C2C AEB) from 1 March 2023 for all new model vehicles and 1 March 2025 for all new vehicles.
- Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 98/01 – Advanced Emergency Braking for Passenger Vehicles and Light Goods Vehicles) 2021 (legislation.gov.au) for AEB systems capable of detecting collisions with other vehicles (C2C) and pedestrians (C2P AEB) from 1 August 2024 for all new model vehicles and 1 August 2026 for all new vehicles.
Implementing ADR 98/00 and 98/01 has been estimated to save 581 lives, and prevent 20,433 serious and 73,340 minor injuries over 35 years. Total benefits to the Australian economy has been calculated at $2,681 million and costs at $1,592 million.
The ADRs will harmonise Australian AEB requirements for light vehicles with the international standard, United Nations (UN) Regulation No. 152 series 00.