Particle.news
Download on the App Store

France to Collect Driver Reports as Probe of ‘Phantom Braking’ Expands

An online form will centralize incidents to guide the ongoing technical inquiry.

Overview

  • Transport officials have appealed for testimonies and plan to publish a questionnaire after a surge of reports of sudden, unexplained stops.
  • An investigation opened in August is ongoing with tests and hearings of carmakers, suppliers and experts led by the market‑surveillance service.
  • Hundreds of motorists may be affected across multiple brands, with incidents ranging from near‑misses to serious crashes and at least one reported fatality.
  • Testimonies and reporting point to automatic emergency braking as a possible trigger, with hypotheses including rain, sensor miscalibration after impacts or windshield replacement, and software issues.
  • Victims are pursuing legal cases, some report resistance to independent vehicle expertise, and authorities advise drivers not to self‑disable AEB but to seek professional checks and recalibration.