The Mahindra XUV700 is one of the most technologically advanced vehicles from the Indian manufacturer. It was among the first SUVs in this segment to feature Level 2 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System). ADAS is a feature designed to significantly enhance the driving experience, making it easier for drivers and reducing the number of accidents on the road. It’s important to note that ADAS is not an autonomous driving technology, and Mahindra does not promote it as such. However, there have been several cases where people have misused this feature. Here, we have one such incident where a driver and a co-passenger left the front seats after engaging ADAS and recorded a video while driving on a highway.
The video was shared by Xtream Motivators on their YouTube channel. In the video, we see a Mahindra XUV700 being driven on a four-lane highway. What’s intriguing about this video is that the front row seats of the car are empty. The person recording the video is sitting in the second row of the SUV. There are likely three people in the car, but the video doesn’t clearly show the number of occupants. The car was being driven in the rightmost lane with adaptive cruise control turned on, maintaining a speed of 60 km/h, as displayed.
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In addition to Adaptive Cruise Control, the driver would have also engaged the Lane Keep Assist to ensure that the vehicle stays within its lane. As mentioned earlier, this feature is intended to make the driving experience more relaxing, but it still requires driver intervention. If the steering wheel is left unattended for some time, the car will sense it and prompt the driver to place their hands back on the steering wheel. This was an extremely risky move or stunt by the owner, clearly done to showcase the new feature and share it on social media.
Performing such stunts on Indian highways is extremely dangerous, as our roads are often very challenging, with the element of surprise always present. There is a possibility that cattle might wander onto the road, and incidents involving jaywalkers and reckless driving occur in different parts of the country every day. If the driver of this XUV700 were to encounter an obstacle like this, it’s uncertain whether they would have enough time to move from the rear seat to the driver’s seat and apply the brakes in time.
It’s important to understand that this system relies entirely on sensors and radars and is not foolproof. If any of the sensors malfunction, the system will not function as intended, potentially leading to accidents. In the past we have come across incident where people misusing ADAS on Mahindra XUV700 have got into an accident. In short, public roads are not the place for such stunts. The owner was putting their life and the lives of other road users at risk by performing these stunts.
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