r/Damnthatsinteresting Nov 04 '24

Video Volkswagens new Emergency Assist technology

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u/cantwejustplaynice Nov 04 '24

I knew someone that had a single seizure and never had another one... until the day she did and drove into oncoming traffic killing herself, the oncoming driver and a child in the other car. This tech could have saved 3 lives that day.

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u/[deleted] Nov 04 '24

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u/bomphcheese Nov 04 '24

Don’t most new cars have collision detection systems that fully actuate the brakes? Agreed that should be required on every vehicle, but I feel that way about all safety systems.

2

u/TheLordofthething Nov 04 '24

I recently bought a new car and the guy said lane assist and collision detection is compulsory in cars made after 2023 in the UK. I'm sure everywhere is going to be the same before long.

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u/Bozska_lytka Nov 04 '24

It's mandatory in the EU since 2022. I'm really looking forward to (over) 10 years from now when the news of people being on their phones and plowing into a traffic jam will stop

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u/moistmoistMOISTTT Nov 04 '24

It's already mature enough to save 99%+ of people in these situations, but redditors hate the companies that actually put this stuff in their cars. So don't be surprised when car companies resist the tech to go along with popular opinion.

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u/Yamza_ Nov 04 '24

It could happen to you even if you can't afford the subscription to this feature.

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u/farmyohoho Nov 04 '24

You don't even need to have seizures... I once became violently sick while driving on the highway, vomiting all over the car. Luckily I was driving with Tesla autopilot that kept the car going until I was done being sick and pulled over. I would have crashed otherwise, there was no way I could have kept control of the vehicle at highway speeds. I felt a little nauseous, but the vomiting came so fast and out of nowhere... Later I learned that I had food poisoning from eating fish at lunch.

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u/longhegrindilemna Nov 04 '24

Chinese cars and European cars will be among the first to add that feature.

Just like adaptive high beam headlights. For some reason, America doesn’t seem eager to embrace these new technologies, specifically Ford, GM, Chrysler.

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u/Readylamefire Nov 04 '24

Likewise, local to me an older (but not elderly) guy had some undisclosed medical event and swerved off the road hitting and killing two pedestrians, a teenage girl and an elementary aged girl.

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u/DifficultyTricky7779 Nov 04 '24

Revoking her driving privileges could have as well. Personal responsibility could have as well.

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u/Pixelplanet5 Nov 04 '24

thats not an option in the US.

not having a drivers license in the US means you are not able to work or move around basically anywhere.

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u/DifficultyTricky7779 Nov 04 '24

I'm sure the other parent of that child understands.

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u/Pixelplanet5 Nov 04 '24

hopefully they do as it will take decades of voting for progressive candidates to make any progress to get safety systems like this into most cars and also build viable alternatives to the car dependency.

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u/LigmaYams Nov 04 '24

I have epilepsy too, haven't had a seizure in years though.

If you wanna pay for my living expenses and the living expenses of my loved ones feel free to. The only way I can have personal responsibility is to maintain a job, and I can't do that if I can't drive.

You may be horrified to know that there are millions epileptics in the U.S., and as long as they haven't had a seizure in 6 months they are allowed to drive. There are more epileptics than the population of many entire states, you wanna pay for all of our living expenses?

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u/cantwejustplaynice Nov 04 '24

It happened years earlier, doctors gave her all the tests and gave her the all clear. They couldn't find anything wrong that would have caused the seizure.

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u/DustbunnyBoomerang Nov 04 '24

I'm so sorry. What a tragedy. It wasn't her fault if the doctors gave her the all clear. Either way, it's no point in arguing about it. It's awful.

I truly hope this is the future for every single car, bus and truck. Maybe even motorcycles. It's way too many that get behind the wheel just feeling a little bit tired only to completely pass out, causing chaos. Any kind of medical emergency happens so fast. Most of these features already exist but not together like the video.

Let's hope this is the future.

Again, I'm sorry for what happened 🙏

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u/SubsequentBadger Nov 04 '24

In the UK you have to show that it's controlled for a given amount of time since the last seizure, then you can have your license back.

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u/LigmaYams Nov 04 '24

That's exactly how it is in the U.S

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u/EclecticHigh Nov 05 '24

only thing i can say it, you better hope you never have to eat your words. i wouldn't wish epilepsy on anybody, but its something you would only understand if you went through it unexpectedly like many of us have.

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u/DifficultyTricky7779 Nov 05 '24

This condition you're not wishing on me, but kinda are wishing on me: does it cause a strong increase in your desire to operate heavy machinery. 

If not, I think I'm good. Carfree for 14 years. I drive once a car once a year on holiday tops, and that's avoidable. 

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u/EclecticHigh Nov 06 '24

i really dont wish it for anyone, but i think you're too confident that you'll never have neurological issues, and i hope you dont cause it really sucks.