Ever since 2012 the European Union has required advanced emergency braking (AEB) in new large trucks and it’s that kind of system that stopped the vehicle involved in the Berlin Christmas market attack. Within 80 meters (250 feet) of the first collision, the Scania R 450 semi-trailer stopped itself.
The rule was implemented to minimize rear-end collisions, but it may have also reduced casualties in this terrorist attack.
AEB is mandated because it can “detect the possibility of a collision with a preceding vehicle, warn the driver by a combination of optical, acoustic or haptic signals and, if the driver takes no action, automatically apply the vehicle’s brakes.”
48 people were injured in the incident and 12 people died.
