October 29, 2026, 3:42 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
A study by ADAC reveals significant weaknesses in the emergency braking systems of modern cars. Ironically, these systems struggle with clothing designed to make people more visible in traffic. This can be particularly critical for children.
Safety Vest Works, Workwear Causes Problems
For its study, ADAC tested six current vehicle models in the dark: Mercedes CLA, Tesla Model Y, BYD Seal, Hyundai Tucson, Dacia Duster, and Opel Astra. All vehicles recognized an adult test figure wearing a standard safety vest. The cars each braked in time.
The results were significantly worse with standardized workwear. Such clothing is worn by emergency responders, police officers, or construction workers. Almost all tested emergency braking systems either did not recognize the person at all or reacted too late.
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Reflective Children’s Clothing Causes Difficulties
The ADAC study showed particularly clear weaknesses with children. If the child dummy wore dark clothing, all six vehicles recognized it. However, with reflective clothing and a school backpack, almost every system failed.
An exception was the Mercedes CLA. Its emergency braking system also recognized children with reflective clothing running into the street from behind a parked car. However, the system did not work flawlessly. The Mercedes also had problems with people in standardized workwear.
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ADAC experts suspect that reflective strips near the ground confuse the assistance systems. ADAC spokesperson Fabian Faehrmann explains that the issue is less about cameras or sensors. Instead, the problem lies with the software that classifies road users.
Software Updates Could Improve the Systems
ADAC calls on car manufacturers to quickly improve their systems. In many cases, the safety gap could be closed with a software update.
Despite the results, parents should not forgo reflective clothing. ADAC still recommends sending children to school in safety clothing. This makes them more visible to human drivers. According to the auto club, this safety benefit outweighs the risk of an emergency braking system not recognizing a person due to reflective clothing.
At the same time, drivers should not rely solely on technology and should brake themselves in case of danger. The responsibility remains with the driver. Since July 2026, an emergency braking system with pedestrian detection is mandatory for all new registrations in the EU.