On city streets, county roads and highways, motor vehicle collisions remain a deadly concern. Auto manufacturers are in a race to develop the newest advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) on the path toward creating truly autonomous vehicles in the coming decades. Unfortunately, these safety features might be causing drivers to become worse.
Common ADAS systems can include blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning and automatic braking systems. Unfortunately, drivers are becoming too reliant on these safety features and many of them don’t have a clear understanding of their limitations.
In a recent study, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety published data that is impossible to ignore. For example, nearly eight out of 10 drivers didn’t fully understand how the system worked. Many drivers believe that the warning system could detect vehicles on the road behind them, or reliably detect bicycles or other vehicles passing at high rates of speed. These safety features are important but are meant to supplement the driver’s awareness rather than completely replace it with technology.
Also, drivers incorrectly assumed their forward-collision warning system would apply the vehicle’s brakes to prevent a collision. Automatic braking and brake-assist are safety features designed to actually slow a vehicle – the forward-collision warning system is only designed to deliver a warning signal.
Studies by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety as well as those published by researchers at the University of Iowa encourage drivers to learn the safety features present in their vehicles. Driving safely benefits all motorists on the road.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, it is important to discuss the matter with an experienced personal injury attorney. Based on numerous factors, you might be entitled to recover monetary compensation for injuries, property damage and lost wages.