The Subaru EyeSight driver-assist system deliberately introduces a 0.3-second lag between when the car detects an obstacle and when it begins braking, because engineers discovered that instantaneous response would feel so unnaturally fast to drivers that it would trigger panic and override the system—so they intentionally programmed a slight delay to make autonomous safety interventions feel more psychologically acceptable and human-like, even though the delay costs precious distance during emergency stops.
Car Fact #145 — November 7, 2026
