New automatic emergency braking discount

Last month, as the first in the industry, Aviva Canada announced that it would offer a 15% discount on auto insurance for vehicles equipped with the new safety system called automatic emergency braking (AEB). This discount goes into effect on Dec. 15^th in Ontario, and while it doesn’t apply to all components of auto policies (such as optional comprehensive coverage, which protects against non-collision damages), insurance discounts for safer cars is the right way to go.

Studies in the US have shown that AEB could reduce the frequency of rear-end collisions by as much as 40%. Fewer accidents mean fewer injuries and insurance claims, which will allow insurance companies to offer related discounts.

What is automatic emergency braking?

An automatic emergency braking system uses sensors such as radar, cameras and/or lasers to detect a potential front-end collision. If the AEB system determines you are about to hit the car ahead of you or a pedestrian or some sort of solid object, it will sound a warning to the driver and apply the brakes likely faster and harder than you could yourself. While all collisions cannot be prevented with AEB, they will certainly be less severe, reducing injuries and damages.

(AEB is not to be confused with ABS braking, which is an anti-lock braking system that most cars have these days. ABS allows the wheels of your car to maintain traction with the road while you are braking, which helps prevent skidding and gives you more control.)

How do you qualify for an AEB discount?

In order to qualify, your vehicle must have a factory-installed AEB system (that is, original equipment from the manufacturer.) Based on the model and vehicle code, the discount will be automatically applied to your new policy or upon renewal. Although many car manufacturers are not yet offering AEB as standard equipment, most of the biggest automakers have committed to doing so by September 2022. Today AEB is often a standard feature on many luxury car brands and now on most models of Toyota vehicles. A number of car companies such as Subaru, Mazda, and Ford offer AEB as an option on some of their new models, and others are getting on board quickly so be sure to ask about AEB if you are new car shopping.