If you’re excited about automotive autonomous driving systems, a new study should give you pause.
Research by AAA finds the technology gives drivers a false sense the vehicle can drive itself. To counter this, automakers equip these systems with driver monitoring software using either a camera or steering wheel detection.
Not surprisingly, the study concluded systems using a driver-facing camera are best at keeping motorists focused on the road. Unfortunately, the technology is not foolproof.
“The key to a safe active driving assistance system is effective driver monitoring that can’t be easily tricked,” said Greg Brannon, director of AAA’s automotive engineering and industry relations. “Vehicle technology has the potential to improve roadway safety, but the last thing we want are ineffective features in the hands of uninformed or overconfident drivers.”
Steering wheel systems don’t work as well
Among the key findings:
- Camera-based systems alert distracted drivers 50 seconds sooner than steering-wheel systems when their hands were off the wheel, they were looking down or at the center console.
- Drivers were more engaged with camera-based systems than steering-wheel-based systems.
- It’s far easier to cheat a steering wheel monitoring system, which allowed up to 5.65 minutes of distraction — or six miles when driving at 65 mph. In comparison, camera-based systems allowed 2.25 minutes of distraction during the 10-minute long test drive — still far from optimal.
- Despite warnings, neither system disables the semi-autonomous features, forcing the driver to take the wheel and pay attention.
“Driver monitoring systems are a good first step to preventing deadly crashes, but they are not foolproof,” Brannon said.
AAA’s study used four vehicles: a 2021 Cadillac Escalade with Super Cruise, a 2021 Subaru Forester with EyeSight and Driver Focus, both of which used a a driver-facing infrared camera for its driver monitoring system. The organization also tested a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe with Highway Driving Assist and a 2020 Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot — both of which used steering wheel systems.
Technology increasingly under NHTA scrutiny
AAA says that Level 2 driver automation, including lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control, provides the highest level of automated vehicle technology currently available.
Nevertheless, continual driver supervision is required and flashy marketing names — such as Tesla’s Autopilot — gives drivers a false sense of security. This led the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ask 12 other automakers requesting their assistance in a probe of Tesla Autopilot crashes in September, asking for information on how their semi-autonomous active safety systems work.
The move came last June after NHTSA opened 30 separate investigations into Tesla vehicle crashes that resulted in 10 deaths. That same month, U.S. safety regulators issued an order mandating the reporting of data from vehicles with advanced safety systems involved in crashes.
“Regardless of brand names or marketing claims, vehicles available for purchase today are not capable of driving themselves,” said Brannon.