Home AAA research finds driving assistance systems do less to assist drivers, more to interfere
Local News

AAA research finds driving assistance systems do less to assist drivers, more to interfere

Contributors

aaaAAA automotive researchers found that over the course of 4,000 miles of real-world driving, vehicles equipped with active driving assistance systems experienced some type of issue every 8 miles, on average.

Researchers noted instances of trouble with the systems keeping the vehicles tested in their lane and coming too close to other vehicles or guardrails. AAA also found that active driving assistance systems, those that combine vehicle acceleration with braking and steering, often disengage with little notice – almost instantly handing control back to the driver. A dangerous scenario if a driver has become disengaged from the driving task or has become too dependent on the system.

AAA recommends manufacturers increase the scope of testing for active driving assistance systems and limit their rollout until functionality is improved to provide a more consistent and safer driver experience.

Active driving assistance, classified as Level 2 driving automation on a scale of six (0-5) created by the SAE International, are advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that provide the highest level of automated vehicle technology available to the public today.

This means for a majority of drivers, their first or only interaction with vehicle automation is through these types of systems, which according to AAA, are far from 100% reliable.

“AAA has repeatedly found that active driving assistance systems do not perform consistently, especially in real-word scenarios,” said Greg Brannon, director of automotive engineering and industry relations. “Manufacturers need to work toward more dependable technology, including improving lane keeping assistance and providing more adequate alerts.”

AAA tested the functionality of active driving assistance systems in real-world conditions and in a closed-course setting to determine how well they responded to common driving scenarios. On public roadways, nearly three-quarters (73%) of errors involved instances of lane departure or erratic lane position.

While AAA’s closed-course testing found that the systems performed mostly as expected, they were particularly challenged when approaching a simulated disabled vehicle. When encountering this test scenario, in aggregate, a collision occurred 66% of the time and the average impact speed was 25 mph.

“Active driving assistance systems are designed to assist the driver and help make the roads safer, but the fact is, these systems are in the early stages of their development,” added Brannon. “With the number of issues we experienced in testing, it is unclear how these systems enhance the driving experience in their current form. In the long run, a bad experience with current technology may set back public acceptance of more fully automated vehicles in the future.”

AAA’s 2020 automated vehicle survey found that only one in ten drivers (12%) would trust riding in a self-driving car. To increase consumer confidence in future automated vehicles, it is important that car manufacturers perfect functionality as much as possible – like active driving assistance systems available now – before deployment in a larger fleet of vehicles.

AAA has met with industry leaders to provide insight from the testing experience and recommendations for improvement. The insights are also shared with AAA members and the public to inform their driving experiences and vehicle purchase decisions.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles - Super Bowl 2023 2 (1)
Sports

How To Bet On Super Bowl 2025 In Oklahoma – OK Sports Betting Sites

Sports

How To Bet On Super Bowl 2025 In New Mexico | NM Sports Betting Sites Apps

This year’s Super Bowl sees the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs facing off in New Orleans, and our guide will tell you how to bet on the Super Bowl in New Mexico. In the state of New Mexico, sports betting is only available at tribal casinos. However, you can still use our list of...

free bets for Super Bowl 2025
Sports News

6 Best Betting Apps Offering Free Bets For Super Bowl 2025

The time for waiting is almost over as the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs get ready to lock horns in New Orleans. Here at AugustaFreePress, we take a look at the best betting apps offering free bets for Super Bowl 2025 on February 9.  More than $4,000 worth of free bets can be claimed...

Sports

How To Bet On Super Bowl 2025 In Minnesota – MN Sports Betting Sites

Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia Eages - Super Bowl 2023
Sports

How To Bet On Super Bowl 2025 In Mississippi – Best MS Sports Betting Sites

How To Bet On Super Bowl 2025
Sports

How To Bet On Super Bowl 2025 In Missouri – MO Sports Betting Sites

How To Bet On Super Bowl 2025
Sports

How To Bet On Super Bowl 2025 In California – Best CA Sports Betting Sites