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Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit member organization that works side by side with consumers for truth, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace.
The opening paragraph of Consumer Reports’ mission statement sums up the almost-90-year-old non-profit’s role, but it does not adequately tell the story. The organization, born in 1936, tests thousands of consumer products from toothpastes to power saws; from kitchen blenders to hot dogs; and, of course, automobiles, light trucks and SUVs of all types, sizes and prices.
In addition, the organization (which shares its name with the monthly magazine it produces), in its advocacy for consumer rights and marketplace fairness, goes beyond product testing, becoming involved in interacting with government agencies and public groups on issues it believes impacts the American consumer.
Automotive safety is one such issue continuously within the organization’s sights, a topic it always considers during its (generally) year-long ownership of the vehicles it tests and reviews. One such area upon which its engineers and reviewers have strong opinions is the upcoming National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s automatic emergency braking (AEB) mandate and AEB in general.
The BRAKE Report Magazine recently spent a summer afternoon talking about the AEB mandate and the efficacy of these systems with Kelly Funkhouser, a recognized and leading expert in the field and advises other organizations on the current state of technology and consumer perceptions.
As Associate Director, Vehicle Technology at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in Colchester, Conn., Funkhouser heads the test programs for vehicle usability (UX/UI), Advanced Driver Assistance and Active Safety systems (ADAS), and connectivity–which includes telematics and related technologies.
The full article can be found in the August 2024 issue of The BRAKE Report Magazine. Subscribe here to get our latest issue.
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