Collisions on the road: A rise in cases of 'invisible braking' incidents
In a recent turn of events, Joanna Peyrache, an engineer from France, found herself involved in an unexpected accident on the highway. Her car came to a sudden stop within three seconds after braking, a situation that left her shaken and with minor injuries.
The incident has sparked a wave of curiosity and concern, particularly as it involves the automatic braking system (AEB) of her vehicle. Over 300 responses have been received in less than a month for Joanna's witness appeal, with many sharing similar experiences or expressing concern about the safety of these systems.
One common hypothesis is a failure of the automatic braking system in Joanna's vehicle. Several automotive experts, including Gregory Pelletier, have stated that the AEB system can sometimes trigger for the wrong reasons. For instance, sensor misinterpretations of shadows, overpasses, approaching vehicles, or other environmental factors can cause the system to erroneously detect threats and apply brakes unexpectedly.
Such failures can stem from a mix of hardware defects (electronic modules, sensors, physical brake components), software glitches, and environmental factors that affect sensor accuracy. Automotive recalls commonly focus on software fixes and hardware replacements to resolve these issues. Vigilance for recalls and proper maintenance of both the brake system and driver assistance sensors are critical to mitigate failures.
In a related incident, Aurélie Tormos, an engineer in the agro-food sector, experienced a similar accident. Unfortunately, her friend and colleague did not survive. Aurélie is seeking to make the manufacturers of her car react, arguing that they should consider her accident as a technical defect, and not wait for more accidents to occur before taking action.
Interestingly, the emergency braking system is mandatory on all cars for a year. Yet, when France Télévisions contacted the manufacturers of the two women's cars, only Stellantis responded. They stated that the emergency braking system is triggered when the driver does not see or identify an obstacle or danger.
Joanna Peyrache, too, is seeking answers regarding the accident. She has photographed her vehicle half-destroyed after the incident and is determined to get to the bottom of what happened. Meanwhile, Aurélie Tormos wants to ensure that such accidents do not happen again, and she is urging manufacturers to take proactive steps to improve the safety of these systems.
[1] Ford Recall Affects Over 300,000 Vehicles Due to Electronic Brake Booster Defect (2021, July 26). Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/26/ford-recall-affects-over-300000-vehicles-due-to-electronic-brake-booster-defect.html
[2] Phantom Braking: What You Need to Know (2021, October 12). Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/phantom-braking-what-you-need-to-know/
[3] Common Causes of Brake Failure and How to Prevent Them (2021, March 22). Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/car-maintenance/common-causes-of-brake-failure-and-how-to-prevent-them/
[4] Automatic Emergency Braking Systems: What You Need to Know (2021, May 17). Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/automatic-emergency-braking-systems-what-you-need-to-know/
- The unexpected highway accident involving Joanna Peyrache, an engineer from France, has highlighted concerns about the safety of automatic braking systems (AEB) in cars, leading to a wave of interest in general news and crime and justice sections.
- The incident has prompted Joanna to seek answers regarding the malfunction of her vehicle's AEB, sparking a question about the industry's accountability in ensuring the reliability of such systems in finance, transportation, and car-accidents.
- Similar accidents, such as the one involving Aurélie Tormos, an engineer in the agro-food sector, whose friend did not survive, have added urgency to the call for car manufacturers to prioritize proactive steps in improving the safety of AEB systems.
- Interestingly, despite emergency braking systems being mandatory on all cars, several manufacturers have yet to respond when contacted, which raises questions about the level of commitment towards addressing potential hardware and software defects in these systems, as reported in articles on car-safety, phantom braking, common causes of brake failure, and automatic emergency braking systems.
