New details have emerged regarding the tragic traffic accident in Romania that claimed the lives of seven PAOK football fans, following testimony from one of the three survivors. According to the attending physician, the survivor, fully conscious and alert, described the moments just before the collision.
The account indicates that the vehicle’s lane assistance system—designed to help drivers stay within road lanes—activated at the time of the accident. The survivor described the steering as “blocking,” causing the van to deviate unexpectedly, which may have contributed to the fatal crash.
What is lane assistance?
Lane assistance is a driver-assist technology aimed at preventing vehicles from unintentionally drifting out of their lanes. Using cameras to read road markings, the system can either warn the driver or intervene gently in the steering to guide the vehicle back on course.
Under normal conditions, lane assistance is a safety feature intended to prevent accidents caused by fatigue or momentary inattention. However, experts note that it is not a substitute for active driving. The system can have limitations, especially on worn lane markings, narrow roads, or during sudden maneuvers such as overtaking. In these scenarios, lane assistance may misinterpret the vehicle’s trajectory and attempt corrective steering, which, combined with abrupt driver input, can momentarily reduce control.
