These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find a car without an Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS) — the technology that uses sensors and cameras to help drivers avoid accidents.
If used properly, ADAS technology has the potential to prevent up to 40% of all vehicle accidents and nearly 60% of traffic fatalities, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
But…if NOT used how it was intended, ADAS can cause more harm than good!
How People Misuse ADAS Technology
Once an ADAS specialist calibrates your system and offers preliminary guidance, it’s up to you, the driver, to make sure you understand the ins and outs of your vehicle’s system.
Unfortunately, most vehicle owners don’t take the time to really learn their systems…and this is where the ADAS technology stops being helpful.
The AAA conducted a survey on this very thing. They came to the conclusion that drivers are generally “unaware of the safety limitations” of their ADAS technology and have unrealistic expectations that can “easily lead to misuse of the technology or an increase in driver distraction.”
Here’s what the AAA analysis found:
- 80% of drivers don’t understand the limitations of blind spot monitoring systems. They have the false impression that the technology can reliably detect vehicles as well as pedestrians and bicycles traveling at high speeds. In most cases, ADAS technology can only consistently catch vehicle traffic appearing in the blind spot.
- 40% of drivers don’t know the difference between the forward collision warning & automatic braking technology. If you’re familiar with these features, you can probably see where this becomes an issue. And, 1-in-6 don’t even know if their vehicle is equipped with automatic braking.
- A growing number of drivers — now 25% — feel “comfortable” relying solely on blind spot monitoring systems. Rather than performing visual checks or glancing over their shoulder for oncoming vehicles (and using the feature as a sort of safety net as it was intended), drivers simply depend on their car’s sensor technology when changing lanes.
How Can I Use ADAS Correctly?
Manufacturers didn’t design driver-assistance technology to completely take over your driving responsibilities. Although your ADAS was created to identify and respond to potential hazards faster than you can, each system comes with varying capabilities.
Your job as a watchful, defensive driver is still crucial to your safety and the safety of others on the road.
That means…no distractions, no relying entirely on your ADAS, and no lazy driving.
It would also be a good idea to brush up on your vehicle’s safety features (if you’re not already familiar with them).
PAS Tech | Wilmington NC
The great news? The PAS Tech team is full of ADAS technology experts that are eager and available to help! We realize how challenging it can be to keep up with the details of complex modern technology. So, let us be a resource for you!
Have questions about your ADAS system? Give us a call at (910) 343-1650.
Has it been a while since your last ADAS calibration? We can help!
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