Skoda Octavia: Cruise Control malfunction! Mumbai-born UK-based driver dead

Santoshbhat · 18th March 2018, 20:27

Cruise control stuck on a Mercedes C Class in China this time at 120 kph and driver drives for nearly 100 kms non stop after authorities cleared roads and toll gates for him

! Mercedes Benz then apparently gained remote access to the car and finally brought it to a halt.

Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...uck-75mph.html

It is quite unbelievable that no one was injured and the driver managed to drive for nearly an hour at 120 kph non stop like the move Speed.

wantarangerover · 18th March 2018, 22:15

I am shocked that in the above incident, the customer service team had to remotely stop the vehicle! I mean, as a driver, being helpless in that situation is quite scary. While the engineers can always point to statistical probabilities and say it is almost impossible for the cruise control system to fail like that, when it does, even if it is literally 1 in a million, it could be catastrophic. There should always be a mechanical override for any electronic system. I suppose manufacturers don't want to do this, as it would make it look like an admission that their electronics are prone to failure. Nevertheless, it should be mandated by regulations that there be a redundant control to disengage cruise control in case the electronics fail.

Jeroen · 19th March 2018, 01:16

I am extremely skeptical about the whole story. For the last decade there have been numerous stories about drivers not being able to disconnect the cruise control. As far as I know, none of these stories was ever properly validated. In several cases the manufacturers found nothing or at best a doormat that made the pedal stuck. I cant understand why pressing down as hard as you can on the brakes wouldn't slow him down. Not sure about this model but cant you just turn off the ignition, put the gearbox on neutral etc.

Jeroen

Sankar · 19th March 2018, 08:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Santoshbhat

Cruise control stuck on a Mercedes C Class in China this time at 120 kph and driver drives for nearly 100 kms non stop after authorities cleared roads and toll gates for him

! Mercedes Benz then apparently gained remote access to the car and finally brought it to a halt.

Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...uck-75mph.html

Times like these wish that it was good old cable and pulley throttle system. Wonder if the Merc engineers used teamviewer to kill the offending program before it killed the driver

am1m · 19th March 2018, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeroen

I am extremely skeptical about the whole story. I cant understand why pressing down as hard as you can on the brakes wouldn't slow him down. Not sure about this model but cant you just turn off the ignition, put the gearbox on neutral etc.

Not familiar with the insides of a cruise control system, but I too am wondering why would just using the brakes not work in such cases? Or downshifting and using engine braking? Any tech/mech guys can shed some light please.

Rehaan · 20th March 2018, 12:23

Weird incident, and a lot of it doesn't make sense (plus it's reported on DailyMail!).

Four things:

1) The brakes will always be able to overpower the engine. (More details & real-world tests in this great podcast)

2) I assume this car would have Brake-Throttle Override?

3) Mercedes claims they did NOT control the car / cancel cruise control in any way. I tend to believe them.

4) The article says this guy was an amateur racer. Strange that he wouldn't be able to think of ways to stop the vehicle.

ACM · 14th October 2018, 13:12

In another case.

Just received this on WhatsApp.

Have no further info at this point of time.

proton · 15th October 2018, 16:25

https://www.thenational.ae/uae/cruis...ts-say-1.90539

Quote
Drivers whose cruise control becomes stuck should keep calm and manoeuvre into the lane with the least traffic, then shift down gears and brake, experts say.

“Drivers should try to disengage the drive by shifting the gear lever to neutral, and then using the brakes to slow the vehicle down and stop in a safe place,” said Phil Clarke, a principal road safety consultant at Transport Research Laboratory UAE.

“One of the problems is that people panic and don’t think rationally. At low speeds the brakes may even be sufficient to override the drive, and when the vehicle is stopped the ignition can be turned off.”

Last week an Emirati driver’s cruise control became stuck at 120kph while he was travelling on the Kalba-Maliha Road towards Sharjah. Patrols were sent to clear the road ahead of him.

To stop the car, a police vehicle pulled in front of it and slowed down. The runaway car bumped it repeatedly, slowing each time until it stopped.

18th March 2018, 20:27	#91
Santoshbhat Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,346 Thanked: 6,864 Times View My Garage	Re: Skoda Octavia: Cruise Control malfunction! Mumbai-born UK-based driver dead Cruise control stuck on a Mercedes C Class in China this time at 120 kph and driver drives for nearly 100 kms non stop after authorities cleared roads and toll gates for him ! Mercedes Benz then apparently gained remote access to the car and finally brought it to a halt. Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...uck-75mph.html It is quite unbelievable that no one was injured and the driver managed to drive for nearly an hour at 120 kph non stop like the move Speed.
	(9) Thanks

18th March 2018, 22:15	#92
wantarangerover BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: BLR Posts: 181 Thanked: 175 Times	Re: Skoda Octavia: Cruise Control malfunction! Mumbai-born UK-based driver dead I am shocked that in the above incident, the customer service team had to remotely stop the vehicle! I mean, as a driver, being helpless in that situation is quite scary. While the engineers can always point to statistical probabilities and say it is almost impossible for the cruise control system to fail like that, when it does, even if it is literally 1 in a million, it could be catastrophic. There should always be a mechanical override for any electronic system. I suppose manufacturers don't want to do this, as it would make it look like an admission that their electronics are prone to failure. Nevertheless, it should be mandated by regulations that there be a redundant control to disengage cruise control in case the electronics fail.
	() Thanks

19th March 2018, 01:16	#93
Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 8,507 Thanked: 55,779 Times View My Garage	I am extremely skeptical about the whole story. For the last decade there have been numerous stories about drivers not being able to disconnect the cruise control. As far as I know, none of these stories was ever properly validated. In several cases the manufacturers found nothing or at best a doormat that made the pedal stuck. I cant understand why pressing down as hard as you can on the brakes wouldn't slow him down. Not sure about this model but cant you just turn off the ignition, put the gearbox on neutral etc. Jeroen
	(3) Thanks

20th March 2018, 12:23	#96
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,291 Thanked: 35,272 Times	Re: Skoda Octavia: Cruise Control malfunction! Mumbai-born UK-based driver dead Weird incident, and a lot of it doesn't make sense (plus it's reported on DailyMail!). Four things: 1) The brakes will always be able to overpower the engine. (More details & real-world tests in this great podcast) 2) I assume this car would have Brake-Throttle Override? 3) Mercedes claims they did NOT control the car / cancel cruise control in any way. I tend to believe them. 4) The article says this guy was an amateur racer. Strange that he wouldn't be able to think of ways to stop the vehicle.
	(1) Thanks

14th October 2018, 13:12	#97
ACM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,751 Thanked: 4,379 Times View My Garage	Re: Skoda Octavia: Cruise Control malfunction! Mumbai-born UK-based driver dead In another case. Just received this on WhatsApp. Have no further info at this point of time. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

15th October 2018, 16:25	#98
proton BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 206 Thanked: 411 Times	Re: Skoda Octavia: Cruise Control malfunction! Mumbai-born UK-based driver dead https://www.thenational.ae/uae/cruis...ts-say-1.90539 Quote Drivers whose cruise control becomes stuck should keep calm and manoeuvre into the lane with the least traffic, then shift down gears and brake, experts say. “Drivers should try to disengage the drive by shifting the gear lever to neutral, and then using the brakes to slow the vehicle down and stop in a safe place,” said Phil Clarke, a principal road safety consultant at Transport Research Laboratory UAE. “One of the problems is that people panic and don’t think rationally. At low speeds the brakes may even be sufficient to override the drive, and when the vehicle is stopped the ignition can be turned off.” Last week an Emirati driver’s cruise control became stuck at 120kph while he was travelling on the Kalba-Maliha Road towards Sharjah. Patrols were sent to clear the road ahead of him. To stop the car, a police vehicle pulled in front of it and slowed down. The runaway car bumped it repeatedly, slowing each time until it stopped.
	(2) Thanks