Wuhan Driver Dozes Off Due to Overreliance on Autopilot, Crashes into Construction Zone—Seatbelt Saves Life

Around 8:45 p.m. on March 5, an accident occurred on the Wuhan Ring Expressway caused by a driver’s overreliance on an intelligent driving assistance system. The driver, surnamed Xie, was traveling in the fast lane at 100 km/h when he became drowsy. After activating the smart driving feature, he failed to take back control of the vehicle in time, causing it to veer into a construction zone. The car plowed through 30 meters of water-filled barriers (water-filled plastic barricades) and collided with a road sign before finally coming to a stop. Fortunately, all occupants were wearing seatbelts and sustained no injuries; only the vehicle and construction-site facilities were damaged. Traffic police issued a reminder: current intelligent driving systems are merely assistive features and cannot fully replace human operation. Drivers must remain attentive—especially at night, in complex road conditions, or under low-visibility circumstances—and be ready to take immediate control of their vehicles at all times. Never take your hands off the wheel or eyes off the road.