Whether a bird really did trigger the system or the vehicle computed another danger point the driver may not have realised i don't know.

I'm not sure about these systems, what i am sure about is that if we're dumbing the driving standards down so low that these systems are nescessary then something has gone badly wrong.

I daresay all these automation systems are being put in place for the eventual removal of the driver from the vehicle, which is marvellous except it will never work in Britain because the roads as we know them are going to to far more clogged than they are now when the population goes over 80 million and climbing by the time these systems are perfected.

Do i want auto braking on any vehicle i drive, no i don't, it won't be fitted to any car i own, it may well be fitted to my next lorry and the only thing i'll be looking for is the off switch.

As for braking hard in front of a lorry for no good reason such as the errant bird, well at least the bereaved will have some comfort knowing it was someone else's fault...yes it will be the drivers fault but being the innocent party at your own funeral isn't much cop.

Edited by gordonbennet on 16/06/2016 at 19:03

I have to say it has its uses, I was going past a school yesterday which has a lane and green to one side

Children have a habit of running across the lane and try to run between cars, I have had (as many others) close shaves where drivers have almost hit them.

That doesn't need automatic braking, that needs a letter (recorded) to the head master/mistress/other and a copy to the relevant local authority warning them of out of control children leaving the school, soon as that letter hits the desk all hell will break loose once they are put on notice that a tragedy is highly likely.

And every 20 mph limit area outside a school should have speed cameras installed - but I've never seen one outside a school yet - which leads me to believe that they are not installed for reasons of road safety.