A Wenzhou woman was fined 200 yuan for applying makeup and dancing while using her AITO SUV’s driver-assist system. She claimed AI drives better than she does. Police deducted license points.
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A woman in eastern China has been fined for applying make-up and dancing behind the wheel, then defending her actions by claiming her car’s driver-assistance system drove better than she could. The incident, which involved a premium smart SUV backed by Huawei, has sparked heated discussions about the misuse of driver-assistance technology in China.
According to CCTV News, the driver, surnamed Lin, is from Wenzhou in Zhejiang province. She had repeatedly posted videos online flaunting her vehicle’s assisted driving function, with the clips quickly going viral on social media.
In the widely shared videos, Lin is seen travelling through a tunnel with the driver-assistance system activated. With both hands completely off the steering wheel, she is shown applying foundation and lipstick, moving to music, and even eating snacks—all while the car is in motion.
Lin was driving an AITO SUV, a premium smart vehicle brand backed by Chinese technology giant Huawei, which is worth about 500,000 yuan (US$73,000). She had also decorated the driver’s seat with flowers and ornaments, though the distance she travelled while engaging in the dangerous behavior has not been disclosed.
Local traffic police recently contacted Lin after internet users reported her for dangerous driving. When questioned, Lin tried to justify her actions, saying: “Although my hands were doing other things, I was still thinking about driving.”
Police warned her that unexpected situations—such as roadworks requiring a sudden lane change—could occur at any time, posing a serious risk to her and other road users. They explained that driver-assistance systems are designed for relatively simple road conditions and cannot reliably cope with complex scenarios or emergencies.
Lin remained unrepentant, responding: “I had not thought about that because I really trust smart driving. As a female driver, I think it drives better than I do.”
Officers stressed that driver assistance is not the same as autonomous driving and cannot identify every obstacle on the road. Under China’s vehicle automation standards, driver-assistance systems only provide limited steering or speed-control support—such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping—and drivers are required to remain alert and in full control of the vehicle at all times.
Police added that motorists remain legally responsible when using such functions, and traffic violations can lead to fines, licence revocation, or even administrative detention. In Lin’s case, she was eventually fined 200 yuan (US$30) and had points deducted from her driving licence for obstructing safe driving.
Her case has triggered a heated discussion on mainland social media, with related topics drawing more than 10 million views. Netizens expressed their anger and concern over her irresponsible behavior.
“I am terrified of irresponsible drivers like this. If nothing happens, they are lucky; if it does, they endanger both themselves and others,” one online observer commented. Another netizen said: “I hardly ever use smart-driving features. Humans are still more reliable and flexible than machines.”
The misuse of driver-assistance technology is not uncommon in China. On May 4 this year, a man returning to Shanghai reported seeing a driver sleeping in a speeding car while its assisted-driving system was activated. In February 2023, a drunk driver from central China activated the function and later argued he was not controlling the vehicle; he was ultimately sentenced to five months’ detention and fined 10,000 yuan (US$1,400).
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Editor: Crystal H
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