(AEB): The Urban Safety Net That Can’t Catch Everything

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), especially in its low-speed "City" variant, stands as one of the most celebrated advancements in modern automotive safety. Marketed as a guardian angel for chaotic urban environments, these systems promise to detect imminent collisions with pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles, automatically applying the brakes if the driver fails to react. However, this promise has fostered a dangerous culture of over-reliance. A clear-eyed understanding of what City AEB can and—more importantly—cannot do is essential for urban drivers who trust it daily.