Remember when cruise control first appeared in vehicles? Road trips suddenly became, well... so much ‘cruisier’. Now, with the car industry seemingly hell-bent on taking more and more control of our steering wheels, we take a look at the current state of automotive automation.
Developments aimed at automating safety in cars have been with us for a while. Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) were first introduced in the 1970s and are now commonplace on production vehicles. Anti-collision and lane departure systems arrived in the 2000s, and manufacturers continue to push new ways that take the thinking out of driving. But this removal of responsibility is not being as well-received as you might expect.
What’s not to love?
These days, modern cars have a plethora of high-tech features like automotive emergency braking, blind spot detection, 360-degree cameras, and more.
And while technology shouldn't be a primary reason for changing your car, it's definitely a significant factor in what vehicle you choose when the time comes to upgrade.
Below, we demystify the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and explore their pros and cons to help you decide if they're the right fit for your next ride.
Can my car really do all that?
In-car safety features such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are designed to identify crash hazards and react faster than our reflexes. By using sensors, cameras and AI-driven algorithms, they lower the risk of human error and increase driver comfort. ADAS in vehicles will vary depending on the make, model and trim spec, but some of the more common ones are:
• Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Parking Assist
• Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
• Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking (RAEB)
• 360-degree cameras
Three ways technology keep us safe
Did you know that afternoons are the peak time for nose-to-tail collisions? Vehicles with adaptive cruise control, collision warning, and automatic emergency braking have less chance of being involved in these types of crashes, according to a recent study.
For long drives or inner-city congestion, adaptive cruise control is great for maintaining a safe distance from the car ahead by adjusting your speed automatically. Additionally, lane departure warning alerts drivers in danger of drifting into another lane and potentially into the path of another vehicle.
Parking assist features are another game-changer. No more sweaty palms and muttered curses! Park assist and collision warning features take the hard work out of tricky parks.
A big turn-off
Not everyone is rapt with high-tech car systems, however. Constant beeping and auto-correction can be stressful. Let’s face it, very few people like to be told to stay in their lane. In fact, a recent study found that one in five Australian motorists disable their vehicle’s safety features because they find them “annoying”, “distracting”, and “too sensitive”. The biggest bugbears for this group were lane departure warnings and lane-keeping assist.
Even taking this stat into account, Aussie drivers overwhelmingly agree that driving a vehicle with driver assistance features is far safer. While we know that technology isn't always perfect, it’s a question of balance and embracing the technology without becoming overly reliant on it.
If you’re new to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, why not take a test drive and see for yourself? The knowledgeable sales teams at easyauto123 will gladly help you find the right car and happily answer your questions. Chances are that you’ll soon fall in love with the high-tech features and wonder how you ever managed driving without them!
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