Guardian Angels. How brake assistants work

Škoda cars are equipped with a range of modern assistants designed to help avoid collisions while reversing or turning. These systems not only warn of imminent danger but can even apply the brakes automatically in emergencies. Find out how they work and why it’s worth keeping them on—even if they sometimes seem overly cautious from a driver’s perspective.

12. 6. 2025 Concepts

In pursuit of maximum safety, Škoda models feature a set of sophisticated braking assistants capable of braking and stabilizing the vehicle without driver input, when needed. They always operate with the goal of preventing a collision, and their behaviour follows strict rules based on the principle that “you can never be too careful.”

This applies, for example, to the Front Assist system, which is designed to prevent frontal collisions or at least minimize their consequences. It activates not only when it detects an obstacle or another vehicle dangerously close ahead, but also when it senses that a cyclist or pedestrian might cross the car’s path unexpectedly.

Front Assist helps to avoid or mitigate collisions with vehicles in front. This means it can also warn you if you are approaching a row of parked cars that you want to pass.

These systems may sometimes issue warnings—or even intervene—when the driver is already aware of the potential danger and plans to react in time, such as when navigating around parked cars. To the driver, this can feel like a disruptive false alarm. However, considering that a serious accident can happen after just a few seconds of distraction, this is a small price to pay for safety. Additionally, one can never rule out the possibility of another driver's mistake or a technical failure. Research shows that emergency braking can prevent up to half of all accidents.

6 Guardian Angels

- - - - Škoda cars include several assistants that can “tap the brakes” for the driver. These systems activate only when they detect an imminent risk of collision. The following safety assistants are capable of braking on behalf of the driver:

● Parking sensors with automatic braking – These sensors normally inform the driver of nearby obstacles. If the driver doesn’t brake in time, the automatic braking function can prevent minor collisions.
● Automatic emergency braking while reversing – Risky situations often occur while reversing, such as backing out of a tight row of parked cars. If a vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian approaches too closely, the car can stop itself.
● Front Assist and Anti-Collision Assist – Activates when a frontal collision is imminent. Even in low-visibility conditions, it can detect unlit pedestrians or cyclists.
● Turn Assist – A part of the Front Assist system, it intervenes during turns at intersections when there’s a risk of a crash with oncoming traffic.
● Multi-Collision Brake – If the airbags are deployed, the brakes automatically engage to stop the vehicle and prevent further impacts.
● Emergency Assist – If the lane-keeping system detects that the driver isn’t responding to warnings and doesn’t have hands on the wheel (e.g., due to a medical emergency), the vehicle will stop itself, turn on hazard lights, and unlock the doors.

Typical situations where the vehicle might brake unexpectedly include parking in tight spaces or driving on uneven natural terrain. “As soon as the driver doesn’t react to visual and audible warnings, the assistant will brake automatically. Because the system works by reflecting ultrasonic waves, it may occasionally respond to objects that both the driver and car can easily overcome—such as curbs, tall grass, or other items that physically aren’t actual obstacles, but can’t be differentiated from solid ones by the system,” explains Petr Pořízka from Škoda’s development department.

Parking sensors with automatic braking stop the car if they detect an obstacle when parking. The sensors can also consider grass or a kerb as an obstacle.

In such cases, the vehicle stops, but that doesn’t mean the driver can’t finish the manoeuvre. The advice is simple: follow the warning, and if reversing, slow down below the safety threshold of 1.5 km/h, at which point the assistant won’t intervene. The same approach, combined with maximum caution, applies when the driver needs to pass very close to an obstacle—like a parked car or pole—with only a few centimetres to spare.

The emergency stop occurs at speeds above 1.5 km/h (1.5 mph); if the driver is driving slower, the assistant gives an acoustic warning when reversing, for example, but even if the driver does not react, the assistant does not intervene.

“Emergency braking can be sudden, but it signals a potential hazard. Only proceed with the manoeuvre if you’re absolutely sure you can do so safely,” adds Pořízka. It’s also wise to remember that even seemingly harmless grass might conceal hidden solid obstacles—and don’t forget about your mirrors when squeezing by tightly.