There’s something I’ve been wanting to write about for a while, because every time it happens, my whole chest tightens and my instincts scream.
ESC — Electronic Stability Control.
Lane assist. Steering correction.
Whatever name they give it… the feeling is the same.
It’s meant to protect us.
But sometimes, it does the opposite.
Because here’s the truth:
If a child, an animal, or a cyclist suddenly moves into your path, your instinct is to steer away.
Every driving teacher in the world teaches the same thing:
react, avoid, protect.
But these new systems?
Sometimes they override you.
The wheel resists.
The car pulls you back.
It “corrects” your movement, even though your movement is the one thing that could prevent a tragedy.
And every time it happens to me, there’s a shock through my entire body.
My chest tightens.
My breath cuts short.
My spirit goes into full alert.
Because nothing is more frightening than losing control of a car you’re supposed to be in control of.
“You can just turn it off” — yes… but can we talk about how frustrating that is?
I know.
You can deactivate these systems.
But after driving so many rental cars over the last six months, I’ve realised something:
Every car hides the deactivation button in a completely different place.
One puts it under a symbol that looks nothing like the function.
Another buries it under four touchscreen menus.
Another demands endless warnings and confirmations, like I’m trying to override a spaceship.
And the most infuriating part?
You have to deactivate it every single time you start the car.
Every. Single. Time.
The car turns it back on automatically, as if it doesn’t trust the driver.
As if my own instincts are a problem that needs correcting.
It’s distracting.
It’s frustrating.
And honestly… it pisses me off.
Because safety shouldn’t feel like a fight.
And no driver should have to struggle with a machine just to maintain control of the vehicle they’re responsible for.
If a system is supposed to help, it shouldn’t be endangering people who depend on real-world instinct — especially in moments where one second can change everything.
What’s your experience with this function as a driver?
💫Maggie
The Afterlove Voice 💫
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