On March 27th, it was reported that many joint venture car models in China are equipped with a "pedestrian protection system". Once mistakenly triggered, car owners have to spend over ten thousand CNY to repair. Many Honda, Cadillac, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz owners have experienced such hidden losses.
Recently, a Volvo S60 owner posted on social media that when driving at night, he hit a small dog. The dog was not seriously injured, barked twice after being knocked down, and then ran away. However, the pedestrian protection system of his vehicle was triggered, causing the front hood to pop up.
The car owner is puzzled why the pedestrian protection system was triggered even though they only hit a small dog and didn't touch the hood. They visited the dealership and found out that the repair would cost over 10,000 CNY, including replacement of parts like the airbag computer.
On this matter, netizens expressed their opinions: "It would be better to have this function removed" and "The pedestrian protection system is for pedestrians, not animals. You should claim compensation from the manufacturer."
Reportedly, the pedestrian protection system, when it detects a collision, can instantly raise the hood to provide some cushioning for pedestrians hit by the hood, reducing their injuries.
Some netizens think this system is just a money-making scheme for the dealership and suggest removing it. However, others warn that removing it might lead to insurance companies refusing to pay claims if accidents result in more severe injuries to pedestrians. So, it's advisable to think carefully before dismantling it.
What's your take on this?
