Louis de la Cruz, Executive Director of Services and Digital Experiences at General Motors Africa and the Middle East, has affirmed that General Motors treats road safety as a shared responsibility — one that extends to the very design of its vehicles. Through advanced driver-assistance systems and in-vehicle technologies, General Motors actively helps drivers maintain focus and reduce sources of distraction.
This is the core motivation behind OnStar, a system designed to serve the driver rather than compete for their attention. Through seamless integration of built-in Google technology, drivers can use natural voice commands to control their environment hands-free. Instead of looking at a screen, a driver can simply ask Google Assistant to set a destination, make a call, or adjust the temperature — all of which keeps the driver focused on the road ahead.
These connectivity capabilities work in tandem with General Motors' advanced active safety systems, such as intelligent camera systems and proactive alerts designed to reduce cognitive load and support situational awareness. Safety must also extend beyond the prevention stage. When a collision becomes unavoidable, OnStar's Automatic Crash Response feature provides a critical safety net. Built-in sensors can send an automatic alert to a dedicated OnStar emergency adviser, who can then contact the vehicle to provide the necessary assistance.
Even if the driver is unable to respond, the adviser can pinpoint the vehicle's exact location via GPS and coordinate directly with local emergency services.
The importance of this issue recently resonated during Gulf Traffic Week, held under the theme