However,
Massive reminder cars inevitable?:
The “ghost braking” no longer fall under simple anecdotes: they now receive many recent models. In addition, all equipped with latest generation driving aids. Moreover, The phenomenon highlights the limits of automatic emergency braking. Moreover, raises serious doubts about the technological strategy of the automotive industry.
“Ghost braking”: the Achilles heel of AEB systems – Massive reminder cars inevitable?
Since the summer of 2025. Consequently, the testimonies of drivers have multiplied on French territory. Consequently, Vehicles, sometimes new, would brutally brake at 110 or 130 km/h without any driver’s action. If the government has opened an investigation via the SSMVM. Additionally, Consequently, security specialists already see the sign of a design flaw in the integration of electronic detection and braking systems.
The “ghost braking” is part of a very precise context: the AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking). Similarly, made compulsory on all new cars since 2022. This device is massive reminder cars inevitable? based on a network of radar. Similarly, cameras sensors, supplemented by a calculator which must identify the presence of an obstacle and trigger emergency braking if the driver does not react.
However. Furthermore, Similarly, as Christophe Theuil explains, vice-president of the French Federation of Automobile Expertise, questioned by The point« sensors can detect things that do not exist ». Meanwhile, A reflection on the roadway, a light variation or a misinterpreted panel may be enough to deceive the algorithm. Result: full power braking, completely unpredictable.
This problem was known in the laboratory, but the multiplication of real cases in circulation questions. Joanna Peyrache. victim of an accident on the A40 in April 2025, testified in The point : « The car slowed down very strongly until almost stopped ». In another dramatic case. a driver on the A7 saw her passenger lose her life after brutal braking while she was massive reminder cars inevitable? riding at 130 km/h.
Testimonies that amount to hundreds – Massive reminder cars inevitable?
The available data surprise by their magnitude. The call for testimonies launched by Joanna Peyrache collected around 250 responses in a few weeks. There were even more than 400 cases on August 15, 2025. The English -speaking daily The Connexion underlines that ” About 300 drivers Confirmed that they had experienced a similar situation.
Beyond the figures. the nature of the stories challenges: drivers describe complete stops in full fast track, sometimes without any obstacle in front of them. For some, neither sound alert nor seeing accompanied the trigger, which strengthens the impression of loss of total control.
These incidents. although minority in the face of the total number of vehicles circulating, are enough to generate diffuse fear among motorists. As summarizes it by a driver quoted by Caradisiac : « I did not understand why the car braked suddenly. massive reminder cars inevitable? There was no obstacle or car, not even a shadow ».
Manufacturers under surveillance
For the time being, no manufacturer has been publicly appointed as responsible. Nevertheless, the looks turn to Stellantis, including several Peugeot and Citroën models appear in the testimonies. The group said it was ” ready to assess the vehicles concerned if the ministry requests it ».
The SSMVM coordinates the survey and exchange directly with manufacturers. Dynamic tests are provided to reproduce the untimely trigger conditions. But the difficulty lies in the intermittent of the phenomenon: a bug Software. sensor interference or poor calibration are difficult to isolate without a massive volume of data.
The spectrum of a recall nevertheless hovers. If the common origin of a failure was proven, several hundred thousand vehicles could be affected in France. The recall costs would amount to hundreds of millions of euros. with a heavy impact on massive reminder cars inevitable? the margins already weakened by electrification.
A major economic. technological issue
For manufacturers, the case of ghost braking is a life -size test of the credibility of driving aid systems. These technologies, sold as security wages, suddenly become synonymous with anxiety and distrust.
Insurers are already observing an increase in declarations linked to unexplained braking. If the trend is confirmed, tariff adjustments could specifically target vehicles with certain AEB systems. This development would further add the cost of possession for individuals. already struck by a 5% drop in new registrations in France in the first half of 2025.
For car manufacturers, the issue is not only financial but also strategic. The manufacturers bet on the progressive automation of driving, with emergency braking as a founding brick. A widespread defect could slow down the adoption of future autonomous driving functions. compromise years of investment in research and development.
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