Summary
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According to the AAA report, you still can’t trust your car’s driver assistance system
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AAA testing cautions us not to fully trust ADA systems
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Should you use your car’s driver assistance system?
Active driver assistance systems seem like a convenient way to get from point A to point B. But they can’t be completely trusted, they say. This is according to the latest research from the American Automobile Association was published on Thursday.
AAA’s automotive engineers tested five cars equipped with active driver assistance systems. The systems, also called traffic jam assistants, were used to manage congested traffic. The study revealed a dangerous fact: “notable events” (such as people driving out of their lanes) for which the ADA system did not adequately account for driving conditions occurred every 8.2 miles, or on average every 9 minutes.
Here’s what you need to know about the study and what AAA recommends before using your car’s ADA system again.
AAA testing cautions us not to fully trust ADA systems
Handy systems require you to keep your hands on the steering wheel while operating the system. But hands-free systems allow you to take your hands off the wheel in most situations.
AAA engineers discovered two common “notable events” that ADA systems could not resolve: people passing the vehicle, which required investigator intervention 90 percent of the time, and poor lane centering, where the system’s sensors and cameras stayed off-center instead of moving into other lanes.
AAA found that drivers of portable ADA systems were three times more likely to intervene than drivers of hands-free systems. Drivers with autonomous systems had to reconnect every 5.5 miles or 15.3 minutes.
“Most ADA systems I’ve tested over the past decade, even the newer ones, require the driver to remain engaged and alert and are not a substitute for human decision-making,” Goodwin said. “Even practical roadside assistance systems like GM’s Super Cruise, Ford Blue Cruise, Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot and Tesla’s FSD won’t (or shouldn’t) work without driver intervention.”
Should you use your car’s driver assistance system?
The bottom line is that ADA systems are not yet ready to replace manual driving and human attention.
“While ADA systems can be helpful in some driving situations, they are not a substitute for paying attention while driving,” Greg Brannon, director of vehicle research, said in a AAA statement. “We found that drivers really need to be careful and avoid distractions, especially when the road is busy.”
Even if your ADA system appears to be working properly, AAA recommends that you prepare for interventions and stay active while traveling. It is also best to read the ADA system manual to understand when and how to use it.
Goodwin points the finger at Tesla, which is still struggling to bring ‘Full Self Driving’ and ‘Autopilot’ to market because they are not fully autonomous driving systems. This “creates a disconnect between the car’s actual capabilities/technology and customer expectations,” Goodwin said.
Tesla was found partially liable earlier this month for a fatal crash in which a driver was using autopilot software when he collided with another car and was ordered to pay $243 million in damages.
In California, Tesla is currently in court over another Autopilot-related case, and the state’s DMV is suing over allegations of false advertising and misleading customers. California’s DMV says Tesla is misrepresenting the capabilities of its advanced driver assistance systems by calling them “full self-driving” and “autopilot” and is seeking a 30-day suspension of Tesla’s license to sell vehicles in the state.
