Emergency Vehicle Lights Can Screw Up a Car’s Automated Driving System

With the increasing popularity of automated driving systems in cars, it has been discovered that emergency vehicle lights can sometimes interfere with these systems, causing confusion or malfunctions.

Emergency vehicle lights, such as those on police cars, ambulances, or fire trucks, emit a variety of flashing patterns and colors to alert other drivers and pedestrians of their presence and need for right of way. However, these changing lights can be misinterpreted by the sensors and cameras of automated driving systems, leading to errors in vehicle behavior.

Some car manufacturers are working on solutions to this issue, such as developing algorithms that can distinguish between emergency vehicle lights and regular traffic signals. In the meantime, drivers should remain vigilant and be prepared to take control of their cars when encountering emergency vehicles.