Drivers Confused by In-Car Safety Assistance Systems
- 40% of drivers aren't getting sufficient information about ADAS when purchasing their cars
- Sales staff at dealerships often lack knowledge about ADAS
- 70% of ADAS users appreciate the benefits of these systems
- The lack of information provided to drivers leads to dissatisfaction with how the systems operate
- Only 30% of drivers trust manufacturers to self-assess their ADAS systems
Introduction to ADAS
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are becoming increasingly prevalent in new vehicles. These systems include features such as Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Intelligent Speed Assist. However, a survey by DG Cities found that there is a significant trust gap developing between drivers and ADAS.
The lack of understanding among drivers is eroding public confidence in ADAS and creating safety concerns. The survey revealed that 40% of drivers aren't getting sufficient information about assistance systems when purchasing their cars. Furthermore, sales staff at dealerships often lack knowledge about ADAS and may even exaggerate their capabilities.
Driver Engagement and Trust
While 70% of ADAS users appreciate the benefits of these systems, the lack of information provided to drivers leads to dissatisfaction with how the systems operate. This could undermine the transition to greater autonomy in the future. According to Balazs Csuvar, Director of Innovation & Net Zero at DG Cities, "If people don't understand or trust ADAS today, we cannot expect them to embrace autonomous vehicles tomorrow."
ADAS technologies are seen as the stepping stones to full autonomy, and the UK's transition to a self-driving future relies on building public trust and confidence in these systems. Csuvar emphasizes that the Government and regulators need to act now to regulate ADAS technology more closely.
Regulation and Standardization
Currently, manufacturers are not required to pass thorough mandatory regulatory ADAS tests to sell vehicles in the UK. Consumers and fleet operators must rely on non-compulsory Euro NCAP ratings to assess and compare ADAS performance. However, this requires participation from the manufacturer, and the test scenarios are limited. Csuvar suggests that testing must be expanded to cover more scenarios and real-world edge cases.
The firm's research also found that only 30% of drivers trust manufacturers to self-assess their ADAS systems. This highlights the need for more stringent regulation and standardization in the industry.