ADAC tests: Emergency braking assistants often fail to reliably detect pedestrians wearing high-visibility vests

Possible cause of detection errors

With this statement, the ADAC points to a possible explanation for the striking test results. Reflective surfaces on bonnets that catch the light can apparently produce a similar image in sensor systems to individual parts of a child or other objects. According to the ADAC’s assessment, the similar reactions observed in the tests suggest that this could be a systematic detection problem.

The tests concern the function designed to initiate automatic emergency braking when a danger is detected. Failing to brake, or braking too late, means that in practice the driver has to intervene sooner. The ADAC findings relate specifically to the systems and scenarios tested; they do not support a uniform conclusion about all models and software versions available on the market.

Significance of the test results

The vehicles mentioned included the Hyundai Tucson and Dacia Duster. They were associated with the tests conducted, but without further information, no conclusions can be drawn about all equipment variants of these models. The emergency braking assistance system fitted to each vehicle is the decisive factor.

The ADAC sees the results as an indication of a detection problem involving highly reflective strips. Pedestrians walking on or beside roads with traffic may use high-visibility vests as an additional means of being seen, but they should not rely on them alone.

Advice for road users

For motorists, attentively observing the road remains essential. The system is intended to assist, but it does not replace looking at traffic or being ready to brake. Pedestrians wearing high-visibility vests can be particularly difficult to detect from certain viewing angles or under specific lighting conditions.

The investigation also shows why assistance systems have to be tested in practice. Automatic braking is reliably helpful only if the system correctly detects a danger. The ADAC has offered a hypothesis about the causes of the observations so far; the available information did not include further technical details or an explanation of the causes.

The ADAC tests therefore provide a concrete reason to continue examining the performance of emergency braking assistants in the presence of reflective objects and different traffic situations. For manufacturers and developers, the test results can provide indications for improving environmental perception. For road users, the key remains to treat the system as assistance rather than a substitute for their own attentiveness.