Will automatic brake assist prevent a driver from deliberately running down someone in traffic?

My understanding is that emergency brake assist kicks in when you’ve slammed on the brakes very suddenly. If someone is deliberately hitting something, assumedly they’re not braking and the system won’t engage.

But…..why?

Just want know how people are losing control over their life to machines.

You’ll be pleased to know that I deliberately ran down a couple of people in traffic and no stinking machine tried to take control over my life. ~

Your self determination is safe for now.

The only automatic brake assist I know of is the few stick-shifts that have a “hill holder” clutch that allows you to take your foot off the brake and not roll back in the time it takes to coordinate the gas and clutch pedals. That won’t stop anything other than rolling when starting out on a hill. In no way, shape, or form will that prevent anything else, especially not a deliberate effort to mow somebody down.

The EBA system that @Mariah mentioned is a different system entirely, but it also only works when the driver hits the brakes.

Some new high-end vehicles have collision avoidance systems that can reduce speed and apply brakes when the distance between the vehicle and something in front of it decreases. However, my experience with auto-braking is that it lacks subtlety and brakes too hard. I expect that such systems will be improved in the next generation of vehicles. They should be able prevent striking pedestrians and will also prevent the frequent occurrence of drivers pressing the wrong pedal and crashing into a building when parking.