Autonomous Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) Causing Chaos for Motorists: Report

Autonomous Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) Causing Chaos for Motorists: Report

Unbearable Irritation: Why ADAS Features Drive Brits Crazy

Who wouldn't want a smart lane-keeping system or speed assistance to avoid tickets? UK drivers, it turns out, thanks to inaccurate readings and unnerving steering corrections. The story below sheds light on why advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have become a frustrating headache for the British.

You might think a lane-keeping system double-checking your shoulder check or speed assistance to keep you ticket-free would be a dream come true. But for many British drivers, it's become a living nightmare.

Take 75-year-old Eileen, who found driving a recent Hyundai i20 hatchback a nightmare due to the ADAS system's tendency to misread speed limits and random steering corrections, even while parking[2][3]. "The steering wheel suddenly spinning and the car swerving was terrifying," she told the consumer rights organization Which?[2]. She's not the only one feeling this way—the organization's cars expert, Michael Passingham, tested 11 cars with these systems and reported incidents of sudden braking for no reason, jittery movements on country lanes, and incorrect speed readings[2].

Annoyed Drivers Disable ADAS

According to a Which? survey, 46% of drivers turn off speed limit alerts because they feel they don't need it, though there are also reports that it incorrectly picks up signs and misreads them[2]. Lane-keep assist, turned off by 42% of those surveyed, was mostly disabled due to concerns about safety, annoyance, or distraction[2]. Another third of drivers disable emergency braking, drowsiness monitoring, and blind-spot monitoring, largely due to distraction[2].

Although drivers can turn off these features, they can't do so permanently, as settings need to be modified each time the driver gets behind the wheel[2]. A recent report warned that damage to ADAS during accidents could potentially pose a threat to road safety[4].

Test Driving is Key

Which? called for the industry and regulators to improve the fit and functionality of these safety features, so they don't lead to additional distractions[2]. Anyone looking for a new car should test drive it carefully with ADAS enabled to evaluate its performance on the road[2].

Harry Rose, editor of Which? Magazine, emphasized the importance of these features: "These features should be keeping motorists safe, so it is really concerning that so many people are turning them off because they don't find them useful or even worse, that they find them distracting or dangerous. If the tech is working well, it should be possible to adapt to driving with it so that it fulfills its purpose of making you feel safer at the wheel. Turning it off should only be a last resort, as if you turn the systems off, they're not protecting you or anyone else"[2].

In response, Hyundai said they conduct regular testing to address customer concerns and would introduce software improvements where necessary[2]. But until these improvements are realized, expect more drivers like Eileen to continue switching off their automated safety tools, such as ADAS.

Sources:1. Advanced new car features both thrill and terrify drivers2. Drivers switching off safety technology because it’s 'annoying' or 'distracting'3. BBC News - Drivers turning off safety features because they find them distracting4. Collision could damage driving assistance systems and compromise safety - Which?

ADAS systems, despite their intended purpose of enhancing safety, have become a source of frustration for many British drivers due to their inaccurate readings and unnerving interventions. In a survey by Which?, 46% of drivers stated that they disable speed limit alerts because of incorrect readings or a lack of need, and 42% turn off lane-keep assist due to safety concerns, annoyance, or distraction. Furthermore, 33% of drivers disable emergency braking, drowsiness monitoring, and blind-spot monitoring because of distraction. Though drivers can temporarily disable these features, they cannot do so permanently, and continuous deactivation could potentially pose a threat to road safety.

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