{"id":64981,"date":"2025-06-07T14:18:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T18:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/understanding-the-drive-by-brake-a-safety-feature-or-a-glitch\/"},"modified":"2025-06-07T14:18:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T18:18:12","slug":"understanding-the-drive-by-brake-a-safety-feature-or-a-glitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/understanding-the-drive-by-brake-a-safety-feature-or-a-glitch\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Drive By Brake: A Safety Feature or a Glitch?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stellantis has recently shed light on a feature that\u2019s been raising eyebrows: the \u201cDrive By Brake.\u201d This system is designed to prevent drivers from getting stranded due to unexpected issues with the accelerator pedal. But what does this really mean for drivers, especially in light of a recent incident involving a Dodge Charger Daytona? Let\u2019s dive into the details.<\/p>\n

What Happened with the Dodge Charger Daytona?<\/p>\n

Imagine driving your car, and suddenly, it starts moving forward without you touching the pedals. That\u2019s exactly what happened with a long-term test vehicle from Edmunds. The Charger Daytona began to accelerate slowly while flashing warning messages on the dashboard. Understandably, this led to a flurry of concerns about unintended acceleration\u2014a scenario no driver wants to experience.<\/p>\n

However, Stellantis quickly clarified that this wasn\u2019t a malfunction but rather a feature known as \u201cDrive By Brake.\u201d This system activates under certain conditions when the vehicle detects a fault with the accelerator pedal, allowing for a controlled acceleration to help the driver maneuver safely.<\/p>\n

How Does the \u201cDrive By Brake\u201d Feature Work?<\/p>\n

When the Drive By Brake feature is engaged, the car limits the torque delivered by the powertrain, allowing for gradual acceleration\u2014about 1 mph per second, as noted by the Edmunds tester. This means that while the car can gain speed, the brakes remain fully operational, allowing the driver to stop the vehicle at any time. It\u2019s a safety net designed to prevent the car from stalling in potentially dangerous situations, like when traveling at highway speeds.<\/p>\n

Stellantis has indicated that this feature isn\u2019t exclusive to the Charger Daytona. In fact, it has been implemented across various models, including internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid electric vehicles (xHEV), and battery electric vehicles (BEV). However, the company has been somewhat vague about which specific models include this feature, leaving many drivers in the dark.<\/p>\n

Why Is This Feature Important?<\/p>\n

The Drive By Brake feature serves a critical purpose: it helps prevent dangerous situations where a car might stall in the middle of traffic. Imagine being on a busy freeway and suddenly losing power. The ability to maintain a slow but steady speed can be a lifesaver, allowing drivers to navigate to safety rather than risking a complete stop in an active lane.<\/p>\n

Stellantis has also noted that when the Drive By Brake is active, drivers will see notifications on the instrument cluster, including a \u201cService Engine Soon\u201d message or a turtle symbol. This is intended to alert drivers that the system is engaged, but the clarity of these notifications has been called into question.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next for Stellantis and Its Drivers?<\/p>\n

While the Drive By Brake feature is a smart safety measure, there\u2019s a clear need for better communication from Stellantis. Drivers shouldn\u2019t have to decipher cryptic symbols or rely on press releases to understand what\u2019s happening with their vehicles. As the company reviews its in-vehicle messaging, it\u2019s crucial that they prioritize clear, straightforward communication about features like Drive By Brake.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the fact that turning the vehicle off and on can reset the system adds another layer of complexity. This is part of the system\u2019s design, which checks for faults each time the vehicle is restarted. While this can be beneficial, it\u2019s another detail that drivers may not be aware of unless they read the fine print.<\/p>\n

The big takeaway? Understanding features like Drive By Brake isn\u2019t just about knowing they exist\u2014it\u2019s about ensuring drivers are informed and empowered. Stellantis has a responsibility to make sure that its customers are fully aware of how these systems work and what to expect. As technology continues to evolve, so too should the communication strategies that accompany it. <\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re a Stellantis driver, keep an eye on your dashboard notifications and stay informed about the features in your vehicle. It could make all the difference in ensuring a safe and smooth driving experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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We’ve just learned more about a safety feature called’ Drive By Brake’, which some mistook for unintended acceleration<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":64982,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,137,2666,155,1386,120],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-64981","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-information-technology","8":"category-news","9":"category-safety","10":"category-software","11":"category-stellantis","12":"category-tech"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64981"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64981\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}