Chapman's Peak

Chapman’s Peak horror crash survivor returns to site in self-driving car [video]

A truly powerful video.

Chapman's Peak

The new Mercedes Benz comercial takes an in-depth look at the man who survived the most famous car crash in South Africa’s history. Now, 30 years later, it’s time to visit the site of his Chapman’s Peak crash.

Christopher White was driving his Mercedes Benz around Chapman’s Peak on a sunny day. He took his eyes off of the road for one second and the next thing his car was flying over a cliff edge.

Despite the odds, White managed to survive the crash and was even able to unclip his seatbelt and get out of the car. How high was the fall, White describes it as driving off the edge of a 30 storey building.

After the crash in 1988, Mercedes Benz made their own comercial, detailing how White only survived because he was wearing a seatbelt and driving a Mercedes.

For a new 2018 commercial, Mercedes Benz brought White back to the site of the accident, had him recount his story and then they surprised him. They placed him in a brand new S- Class, complete with self driving capabilities.

“Let go of the steering wheel”. The instructor tells White.

“I don’t want to. Autonomous here we go. This is real, it’s scary. The car’s in control and as we get closer to the corner [where he drove off], yes my heart is beating.”

Unsurprinsgly, the car goes on to move smoothly around the corner while White holds his hands in the air.

It is truly a powerful moment and being able to hear from the original first responders who saved him, helps make all the difference.

For Mercedes Benz’s marketing team, there was no better way to showcase the “future” of driving.

“For White‚ Chapman’s Peak was a place of horror. We asked him to revisit it‚ to drive it again‚ but this time to let our car drive him.”

“His fear‚ his trepidation‚ his emotions‚ are evident to start with. It’s heart-wrenching. But then you see him relax. You see the wonder on his face. You see the future of driving.”

You can see the emotional video below.

Watch: Mercedes Benz and a self drive around Chapman’s Peak