AAA warns pedestrian detection systems don’t work at night

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A new study by AAA finds safety systems on cars fail at night when most pedestrian fatalities occur. The alarming new research comes as the days get shorter and it is starting to get darker earlier.

The new research done by the Auto Club’s Automotive Research Center reveals that automatic emergency braking systems with pedestrian detection perform inconsistently and are completely ineffective at night. That’s a real concern given that 75 percent of pedestrian fatalities actually occur in the dark hours of night.

Doug Shupe, Corporate Communications & Programs Manager at the Auto Club of Southern California, was in studio to explain what drivers need to know about these safety systems in newer vehicles.