In the moments after a collision, the car may still be moving at high speed. There is also a major risk that the driver is not in full control of the car, which could lead to additional impacts.
In the event of a severe collision1, automatic braking reduces your speed in a controlled manner, bringing the car to a halt. Reducing your speed is especially important if there are pedestrians, vehicles or objects in the car's path.
The brake lights and hazard warning lights activate during the manoeuvre. When the car comes to a stop, the hazard warning lights stay on and the parking brake activates.
Note
Manual override
Pressing down on the accelerator overrides the braking manoeuvre, allowing the driver to select a safe place to stop.
Post-impact braking requires that the brake system is intact after the collision.