Fatal car crash linked to touch-sensitive buttons

A tragic accident in a parking lot can be linked to the touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel of the driver's car, according to Swedish courts.

This is a translated version of an article from Vi Bilägare, Sweden's biggest car magazine. The original article (in Swedish) can be found here. You can also read our other articles in English.

A Swedish woman has been acquitted twice following a fatal accident in a parking lot. The reason is that she may have inadvertently pushed a touch-sensitive button on the steering wheel that controls the cruise control, causing the car to ”accelerate on its own.”

The incident occurred when the driver was maneuvering her Volkswagen ID.4 in a parking area. It's believed that she might have accidentally activated the cruise control via the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel, leading to unintended acceleration. This sudden movement resulted in the vehicle striking and fatally injuring another woman.

Her grandchild, who was also present at the scene, managed to avoid physical injury.

”It accelerated very quickly, and there was just a bang when it crashed into the car and drove straight toward the people in front of the car,” the driver stated during questioning.

The accident vehicle has a feature that allows it to automatically adjust the cruise control speed based on the current speed limit. Photo: © Simon Hamelius/Vi Bilägare

Acquitted twice

The driver was first acquitted of driver error and reckless driving in district court a year ago. Now, she has also been acquitted of the same crimes once more, this time in a court of appeal.

The court was influenced by the possibility that the car's design contributed to the accident. The touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel, which control functions like the cruise control, can be easily activated unintentionally, for example when the driver is turning the steering wheel and maneuvering. This design aspect raised reasonable doubt about the driver's culpability, leading to her acquittal.

This case has sparked discussions about the safety and usability of touch-sensitive controls in modern vehicles. Critics argue that such designs can lead to accidental activations, potentially causing dangerous situations, especially in complex driving environments like parking lots.

Accident scenario

1. Car A enters the parking lot. Car B is already parked in a parking space.

2. Car A drives toward Car B and then reverses to straighten up.

3. Instead of reversing, the driver puts the car in Drive or accidentally presses the ”RES” button on the steering wheel, reactivating the cruise control. Car A drives straight forward, crashing into Car B and hitting Car B's driver, who is standing outside their vehicle.

4. Car A continues through a hedge and onto the street, pushing Car B from its parking spot.

”Sleek” design

Volkswagen's ID.4 features touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel for various functions, including the cruise control. While intended to provide a sleek and modern interface, this case highlights potential risks associated with their use.

If the ”RES” button on the steering wheel is touched, the cruise control system is activated and the car accelerates to the last speed memorized by the system. If no speed is memorized by the driver, the car accelerates to the same speed as the last speed limit sign – in this case, 40 km/h (25 mph), according to technical experts from Volkswagen who testified in court.

As of now, there has been no official statement from Volkswagen regarding this incident or any plans to modify the design of the touch-sensitive controls in their vehicles.

Also read our test of physical buttons and touch screens.