Motorists driving cars with partial automation soon learn to adapt to the various safeguards that are present in these systems, possibly increasing their car accident risks.
According to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers are very quick to learn ways to circumvent the limits or safeguards set by the partial automation systems in their cars. Vehicles with partial automation systems require motorists to continue to pay attention to the task of driving and step in when there needs to be an intervention. However, an analysis of several partial automation systems in automobiles show that this is not always the case.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety researchers focused on a number of partial automation systems, including Volvo’s Pilot Assist System and Tesla’s Auto Pilot system. In the Volvo system, the researchers found that drivers were often distracted by snacking and checking their phones while the system was at work. They were also likely to get more distracted as they became use to the system and as they learned to get around the limitations imposed by the system. Drivers using Tesla’s Auto Pilot found ways to get around the warning system before it escalated into a full blown intervention. They continued to engage in distracting behaviors only stepping in to take minimum actions to stop warnings or alerts issued by the system.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety researchers say that it is important for automakers to take these observations into consideration while strengthening the integrity of their partial automation systems. As the studies show, not all drivers are paying close attention to the road when the car is functioning on partial automation. These vehicles are designed, for instance, to keep the car moving in its lane at the selected speed, while adjusting speeds to avoid other vehicles and objects. However, drivers are required to step in when there is some kind of emergency. The study finds that this does not always occur.
We are still in the fairly early stages of widespread use of this technology which means that drivers must continue to be alert and pay attention to the task of driving even when they are functioning on partial automation. As the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety research shows, we need to incorporate more safeguards to prevent driver distractions when these systems are functioning. Driver distractions are a major cause of car accidents. Every year, thousands of people are killed in car accidents that are directly linked to distracted motorists.
The Atlanta auto accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for compensation that includes medical costs, lost income and other forms of damages. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.