Majority of UK drivers feel safer with driver assistance systems, research finds
Research reveals that most UK drivers feel safer with ADAS technology, but nearly a quarter still find it irritating...
More than 80% of UK drivers feel safer on the roads thanks to the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) fitted to their cars, recent research has found.
According to a survey commissioned by Thatcham Research and conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), 82% of UK drivers said they felt safer when driving cars fitted with ADAS systems, with 55% reporting that the technology had helped to prevent a collision in the past year.
The systems identified as being the most effective from the survey included Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), blind spot information systems (BLIS) and driver drowsiness protection. Many of these safety systems come as standard on modern cars, with AEB in particular being mandatory on all new models from 2022.
Indeed, ADAS have been widely credited with helping to reduce road traffic accidents. Recent US research found that AEB cuts rear-end collisions by 52%, while EU research predicts that if all cars were fitted with the six most common ADAS, there would be a 24% reduction in accidents – that equates to 18,925 collisions avoided.
Thatcham Research principal ADAS engineer Yousif Al-Ani said, “These findings validate the critical importance of ADAS technology in modern vehicle safety. When more than half of drivers report that these systems have actively prevented collisions, it reinforces what we see in our own testing: ADAS is reducing collisions and improving road safety, despite early implementation challenges leading to driver dissatisfaction.”
However, nearly a quarter (23%) of respondents stated they find these systems to be intrusive or distracting while driving. This can lead to many drivers turning the systems off before they start their journey. Indeed, according to the survey, 39% of drivers believe they don’t need ADAS, but are pleased other drivers have it fitted. These responses indicate that more refinement of these systems is needed to ensure they work effectively and are user-friendly in real-world driving.
“This survey data shows that we’re on the right track but also highlights the importance of our continued work with car manufacturers to refine these systems and reduce the false activations that can frustrate drivers,” said Al-Ani.
“We need to go beyond controlled testing environments to understand how safety systems behave in real-world conditions, so the technology works when it matters most, without causing unnecessary frustration or distraction for drivers.”
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