Tech

Autonomous technologies make us less safe, new study finds

Autonomous technologies and driver aids may actually make us less safe, a new study has found.


The research – conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – concluded that drivers were more likely to fidget with electronics and take both hands off the steering wheel when they became accustomed to adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist features.

Senior Research Scientist at IIHS, Ian Reagan, said the results of the study were concerning.

“Drivers were more than twice as likely to show signs of disengagement after a month of using Pilot Assist compared with the beginning of the study,” Mr Reagan said.

“Compared with driving manually, they were more than 12 times as likely to take both hands off the wheel after they’d gotten used to how the lane centring worked.”

“It shows some drivers may be getting lulled into a false sense of security over time,” he added.

An independent study in August of this year, commissioned by the American Automobile Association, similarly found advanced driver assistance systems to be 'inconsistent and dangerous.'

William Davis

William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

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