The organisation is taking part in tomorrow’s (9th April) Fleet World Fleet Show at Silverstone to give fleet attendees the chance to test auto-braking and see its effectiveness.

Thatcham has researched and tested AEB systems for the last three years and has carried out hundreds of tests on a wide range of new vehicles.

Peter Shaw, chief executive of Thatcham Research said: ‘We would like to set a challenge to UK fleet buyers, to make sure all their vehicles are equipped with AEB. Most major vehicle manufacturers already provide AEB technologies, and UK insurers are already offering favourable insurance groupings on vehicles fitted with AEB as standard – a clear sign of its effectiveness.

‘AEB has a critical role to play in avoiding both common low-speed bumps that can cause injuries such as whiplash, and mitigating injuries and fatalities from medium-speed crashes,’ said Shaw.

‘For companies, which have a duty of care both to their employees and to other road users, and for fleet managers, these technologies are a vital step towards fulfilling that duty.

‘Fleet operators are all too aware of the cost and inconvenience of repairing damaged cars and the benefit of retaining the value of such expensive assets, and employers know the human cost of loss of life or time off work following road crashes. 

‘Tristar Worldwide – a chauffeur fleet – has standard AEB fittings and reports a 27% reduction in rear impact crashes. We would like to see a major UK fleet lead the way and make all its vehicles AEB-fitted.’

Fleet managers are invited to join Thatcham’s campaign to “Stop the Crash”.

For more details of the Fleet World Fleet Show 2014 please phone 01727 739160 or visit www.thefleetshow.co.uk.