Aviva Canada now offers a 15 per cent auto insurance discount for drivers of vehicles that have Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB).
Thanks to technology, today's cars are safer than ever before and the list of safety features now available is extensive: seatbelts, airbags, antilock brakes, electronic stability control, backup cameras, blindspot detection, lane departure alert, forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking are some effective safety features just to name just a few. Not only do these features protect you in the event of a collision, but some of them go one step further, and help you avoid the collision all together.
One safety feature, in particular, has caught the attention of Aviva Canada: Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB).
The insurer recently announced in a press release that drivers of vehicles equipped with AEB will be eligible to receive a 15 per cent auto insurance discount. The discount will be available to all Aviva-insured drivers and will be applied to their policy automatically upon purchase or auto insurance renewal.
What is AEB?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
AEB systems detect an impending forward crash with another vehicle in time to avoid or mitigate the crash. These systems first alert the driver to take corrective action to avoid the crash. If the driver's response is not sufficient to avoid the crash, the AEB system may automatically apply the brakes to assist in preventing or reducing the severity of a crash.
Insurers looking favourably upon AEB
"Automatic emergency braking is quickly becoming a key feature in preventing collisions and reducing their severity. This means less repair costs and more importantly, fewer injuries," said Jason Storah, Executive Vice President of Broker Distribution for Aviva Canada. "It's simple - our customers who choose vehicles with features that help prevent collisions, or reduce their impact, will pay less for their insurance coverage."
Aviva is the first to offer the AEB discount, however, it's expected that more insurers will follow suit as AEB becomes more commonplace in vehicles. It's also expected that in a few years, AEB will become just as standard in a vehicle as seatbelts and airbags are today.
Transport Canada cautions drivers
As helpful as these new motor vehicle safety features are, Transport Canada reminds drivers that, "these systems are designed to aid in the driving task. They are not intended to replace the driver's attention and judgement. The driver is still responsible for maintaining a safe distance and speed even when the collision warning system is in use."
In a nutshell: you're still in the driver's seat and drivers must stay focused on the task at hand.
Drive a car equipped with AEB? Compare quotes for a better rate.
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