Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) was one of the  key topics at the recent British Vehicle Rental  and Leasing Association (BVRLA) Fleet  Technology Congress (Fleet News, July 9). 

The seventh generation Volkswagen Golf was hailed as an example of the benefits companies can experience from cars equipped with AEB.

Volkswagen’s AEB system, known as City Emergency Braking, is fitted as standard and can automatically brake the vehicle at speeds of up to 19mph to prevent a collision. Recent insurance data has shown that the third party claims on the Golf VII are 45% lower than other small family cars (including the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Auris, Peugeot 208 and Audi A3).

Although I haven’t experienced the Golf braking, I have triggered the advanced warning, which sees an angry red car appear in the instrument cluster, with a loud high pitched beep. This prompted my passenger to exclaim: “What’s that?” leaving me a little red-faced when I explained it was because it thought I was getting too close to the car in front. It’s certainly made me drive more carefully since.