82% of drivers feel safer with ADAS – Thatcham Research
A comprehensive new survey commissioned by Thatcham Research has revealed that 82% of UK drivers feel safer with ADAS features in their vehicles.
The study, carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), also revealed that 55% of respondents said the technology helped to prevent a collision in the past year.
Safety critical
Key safety technologies including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), blind spot information systems (BLIS) and driver drowsiness protection systems were identified as delivering the most significant benefits to drivers.
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.”
Positive sentiment
Sam Miley, head of forecasting and thought leadership at CEBR, added: “Our research has highlighted the generally positive sentiment held by drivers towards ADAS. Drivers not only report feeling safer, but a majority have actively avoided collisions.
“Nevertheless, there is still scope for improvement looking forward, particularly on cost and efficiency of use. Continued refinement will be essential to reach mass adoption and fully realise the benefits of these technologies.”
Challenges
However, the survey also revealed that 23% of respondents said that some ADAS features can be distracting, irritating or intrusive during driving.
Al-Ani added: “Our role is to champion systems that not only pass the tests, but also reduce injuries and help drive lower insurance costs for consumers. 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 false activations that can frustrate drivers.
“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.”
