ADAS technology may be moving on at great pace, but without more attention to one crucial aspect of the systems it will fail to deliver its full safety benefits. That is the view of an influential report by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) entitled ‘How to maximize the road safety benefits of ADAS’. The crucial aspect that the report says has been overlooked, - the driver.  

Following the report, independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has called for car makers, dealerships, road safety authorities and driving schools to include a comprehensive lesson for motorists on how to use advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) so they are a road safety benefit and not a potential hazard.

The report found that awareness and understanding of ADAS features such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking systems, lane keeping assist and driver monitoring was generally low among drivers. The FIA’s report also finds that most users do not receive any training when first encountering ADAS but have to rely on information from the user manual, and most alarmingly by applying a ‘trial-and-error’ method.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy & Research, said, “Advanced driver assistance systems have the potential to improve road safety, but only if used correctly. If used incorrectly, not least without a full understanding of what the systems are and are not capable of, they can have the opposite effect, with potentially worrying consequences for all road users. IAM RoadSmart therefore believes the time has now come to include a comprehensive lesson from every car dealer supplying vehicles and further and for ADAS to be included in driving tests.”

Neil added: “There needs to be a much higher emphasis on educating drivers in the best use of technology. Vehicle manufacturers and car dealerships are key, ensuring that when a customer drives off the forecourt they understand and use the various safety systems correctly.”