The FINANCIAL — The Government should give incentives for people to buy safer cars in the same way that incentives have been given for greener cars, according to Edmund King, AA president, speaking at a briefing in the House of Commons on Tuesday 25 March.
Every now and then a new safety technology comes along that is worthy of widespread uptake as it will save lives.
"We have seen this with seatbelts, airbags, antilock brakes, electronic stability control and now we have the chance to embrace Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)."
Often such technologies are expensive at first and therefore only taken up by safety pioneers or those who can afford top end cars
King told a parliamentary meeting, organised by the Thatcham Research campaign ‘Stop the Crash’, according to Automobile Association Developments Limited.
“We need to encourage manufacturers to make AEB available further down their model ranges and we need to encourage car buyers, including fleet buyers, to specify AEB when choosing new cars. As the Government has a good record of giving incentives to encourage the uptake of greener cars, we would like to see such incentives expanded to safer cars."
"Our own AA-Populus motoring panel survey of 24,351* drivers clearly shows that the uptake of AEB would double if the Government was to provide a £500 cash incentive to those buying a car with AEB. More cars with AEB should mean fewer crashes, fewer injury claims and lower premiums."
22% (22% male, 22% female) are fairly or very likely to choose and pay for AEB as a £1000 optional extra.
This rises to 45% (43% male, 49% female) fairly or very likely to choose AEB as an option If the government were to provide a £500 cash incentive to buy a car with AEB.
The idea of the cash incentive seems to appeal particularly to younger drivers with 60% of 18-24 year olds and 48% of 25-34 year olds fairly or very likely to choose AEB as an option If the government were to provide a £500 cash incentive to buy a car with AEB.
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