A mum-of-four, Diane Bryan, found herself in a legal battle after her brand new Toyota RAV4 Excel, obtained through the motability scheme, allegedly took control of the wheel, causing a collision with two oncoming vehicles. The incident occurred just six months after she acquired the vehicle.
Diane claims that the driver assist technology in her car malfunctioned, leading to the dangerous situation. She insists that when she attempted to turn left, the steering wheel refused to respond, and the white line technology failed to correct her course when she crossed the central point.
Despite her assertions, Diane was convicted of driving without due care and attention, receiving six points on her license and an £800 fine. She expressed frustration over the lack of opportunity to have her vehicle inspected before it was scrapped.
The Toyota RAV4 comes equipped with safety features such as a Pre-Collision System and Lane Trace Assist, designed to prevent accidents. However, Diane received a recall notice regarding the emergency call system, citing potential errors that could compromise its functionality.
Following the incident, Diane underwent a full DVLA medical assessment and had her license renewed without conditions. Despite this, she was still charged and found guilty in court. Now, she struggles to come to terms with the criminal charges and fears using driver assist technology in her new car.