Quirky tech tackles road rage

Chinese carmaker Xpeng has unveiled a surprising new feature to help drivers keep their cool when they start to get angry about the actions of other motorists.

The “Road Rage Reliever” allows people behind the wheel to take virtual revenge on other road users thanks to an 87-inch augmented reality head-up display in its new models.

Drivers can unleash their fury by pressing a button on the steering wheel to throw animated emojis, such as angry faces, jandals or pigs, at vehicles that annoy them.

The system creates a video game-like experience similar to Mario Kart, the Nintendo game that allows you to toss items at other road users while racing.

The unusual feature was showcased in a recent preview of Xpeng’s P7 saloon and is intended to reduce road rage incidents but there are concerns over its potential to distract drivers.

He Xiaopeng, the EV maker’s chief executive, says the Road Rage Reliever represents “technology-driven emotion” and is a way to “be civilised and experience ‘civilised frustration’ rather than engaging in dangerous behaviours”.

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