Around nine o’clock, drivers on the E314 towards Leuven notice that a driver is reclining in his seat, behind the wheel of a small gray car. The emergency center 101 in Hasselt immediately sent all police teams onto the road to guide the vehicle and bring it to a stop. Several road users called the police about the rudderless car.
The vehicle was already spotted in Houthalen and Heusden-Zolder. Several police teams approached the self-driving car. The driver was unconscious behind the wheel.
Lane Assist
According to witnesses, the Renault Clio did not drive nicely straight and also not very steady. The vehicle moved slightly from left to right in the lane. This may have been the result of the ‘Lane Assist’ with which the car was equipped. Sensors then scan the roadway. If the vehicle unintentionally – without indicating a direction – threatens to drift out of the lane, Lane Assist automatically returns to the center. The vehicle was traveling at a constant speed because the cruise control was engaged.
guardrail
In an attempt to slow down the vehicle, a police vehicle pulled up in front of the car. The new technology could possibly slow down the car. Somewhere near Halen, the car must have scoured a guardrail. It is possible that a crash barrier eventually led the vehicle to the verge.
An ambulance was called for the driver. The 41-year-old man from Hasselt was still unconscious at the time. An alcohol and drug test was taken from the driver at the hospital. The results of this are unknown.