--- title: "Driver Crashes After Unintentionally Disabling Headlights With a Voice Command" date: "2026-03-04" modified: "2026-03-04" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/driver-crashes-after-unintentionally-disabling-headlights-with-a-voice-command" categories: - "Car Tech" - "News" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" --- # Driver Crashes After Unintentionally Disabling Headlights With a Voice Command ![Lynk & Co headlight]() *\Lynk & Co\* File this one under "concerningly believable." A driver in China behind the wheel of a Lynk & Co Z20 attempted to turn off the interior reading lights in their electric crossover using a voice command. When they did, the car turned off the *headlights* instead—a problem, because this all went down at night, on a highway. The car crashed into a barrier off the right side of the road soon after, prompting the automaker to quickly push out an over-the-air update to ensure this never happens again. Oftentimes in cases like these, we hear reports of incidents, but proof of what actually happened, as well as automaker acknowledgement, can be rare. In this case, we have both: [A post]() on the Chinese social networking site Weibo shows the crash itself from a dashcam, while [another post by Mu Jun](), a Lynk & Co sales executive, confirms the incident and makes it clear that following an update that's just gone live, the car's headlights can now only be switched off manually. The condition of the vehicle's occupants after the crash is unclear, though they appear to be talking normally in the immediate aftermath. This news has prompted owners of other EVs, including those made by Lynk & Co parent company Zeekr, to investigate whether their vehicles are sensitive to such commands, according to *[CnEVPost]()*. They've found that while specific commands to deactivate headlights are blocked by and large, ambiguous ones referring to any or all lights can break through on some models. Considering how many automakers today rely upon AI to handle semantics and speech, it's a worrying albeit inevitable phenomenon. This is exactly why vehicles tend to have safeguards around what you can mess with using voice alone. Infotainment's fair game, but anything critical to the safe operation of the vehicle should be siloed. That's especially crucial when AI is involved, as it has the ability to interpret commands in unexpected ways. *Got a tip? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()