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AAA Tests Find 60% Nighttime Pedestrian Braking Success With Troubling High-Vis Gaps

Drivers should not treat PAEB as a substitute for attention, AAA says.

Overview

  • AAA’s October 2025 closed-course evaluation found overall nighttime pedestrian impact avoidance rose from 0% in 2019 to 60%, with daytime avoidance at 95%.
  • Tests used a robotic adult crossing at 25 mph with four late-model vehicles on a standardized pad at Minter Field Airport in California.
  • ANSI Class 3 high-visibility apparel produced inconsistent nighttime outcomes ranging from improved avoidance to complete loss of detection.
  • AAA urged manufacturers and regulators to improve reliability and expand testing to include more nighttime and apparel-specific scenarios as pedestrian deaths rise.
  • Secondary reporting of AAA data noted model variability, with Carscoops saying the 2025 Toyota Camry avoided all nighttime collisions and the 2025 Tesla Model 3 avoided 80%.