This feature, much like your mom, has eyes everywhere and is always watching for potential safety hazards. Pedestrian Monitoring is an extension of the “Front Assist” area monitoring system featuring the City Emergency Brake. The system uses two sensors at the front of the vehicle, a radar in the radiator grille, and a camera in the mirror base. These sensors are able to monitor the area in front of the vehicle and, within the limits of the system, register certain safety situations like a pedestrian stepping onto the road suddenly. The driver is then warned using visual and audio means, and if the driver does not brake, the system initiates a jolt of the brake as a warning about the critical situation, while at the same time preparing for hard braking. If the driver fails to react, the system automatically performs emergency braking, within system limits. Ideally, this will prevent a collision, or at least reduce its severity.

I ended up getting a Volkswagen Atlas for myself. One day I was on my way to the grocery store with my mother and a person stepped out in front of our car and when I didn’t stop fast enough the car applied the brake assist to help me slow down until I was able to apply the brakes myself. In all the commotion I didn’t even realize that I threw my arm out in front of my mother. She just looked at me and laughed at the situation. Clearly, I learned from the best. Sometimes the mom arm is just a natural reaction, and now in the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, your car has a bit of that maternal instinct too! Stop by King Volkswagen today for a test drive in your own!