TOPEKA – Analysis of the benefits of technology already in many new vehicles indicates it has the potential to prevent almost 3 million crashes and nearly 10,000 deaths a year, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

 

This technology, which includes autonomous braking, forward collision warning and blind spot monitoring, is expected to be standard on most new vehicles within the next two or three years.

 

“There are approximately 40,000 fatal crashes in the United States each year. Imagine a disease that claimed 40,000 lives a year and then imagine news of a breakthrough that would eliminate more than a quarter of those deaths. That’s where we are today”, said Shawn Steward, spokesman for AAA Kansas. “There is a lot of work to be done in terms of educating drivers about the benefits – and limitations – of the technology, but these are exciting times”.

 

As part of its ongoing traffic safety mission, the AAA Foundation evaluated the potential these popular Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have in helping to reduce or prevent crashes. The findings show that, if installed on all vehicles, ADAS technologies can potentially prevent more than 2.7 million crashes, 1.1 million injuries and nearly 9,500 deaths each year:

 

 

In 2016, there were 61,844 reported traffic crashes in Kansas, resulting in 429 people killed and 18,406 people injured, according to Kansas Department of Transportation data. The AAA Foundation research suggests ADAS technology could have prevented more than 24,000 of those crashes and more than 100 of those deaths.

 

While many of these technologies are rapidly being offered as standard, many drivers are unaware of the safety limitations of ADAS in their vehicles, according to additional research by the Foundation.

 

For example, researchers found that nearly 80 percent of drivers with blind spot monitoring systems were unaware of limitations or incorrectly believed the system could accurately detect vehicles passing at very high speeds or bicycles and pedestrians. In reality, the technology can only detect when a vehicle is traveling in a driver’s blind spot and many systems do not reliably detect pedestrians or cyclists. Lack of understanding or confusion about the proper function of ADAS technologies can lead to misuse and over reliance on the systems, which could, in itself, increase risks.

 

“Driver understanding and proper use is crucial in reaping the full safety benefits of these systems,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Findings from this new research show that there is still a lot of work to be done in educating drivers about proper use of ADAS technologies and their limitations.”

 

With that in mind, AAA is encouraging automakers and auto dealers to take a more active role in educating drivers about the benefits and limitations of the technology. And, also urging drivers to do their part to ensure that they understand their vehicle’s features.

 

“New vehicle safety technology is designed to make driving safer, but it does not replace the important role each of us plays behind the wheel,” Yang continued. “The prospect of self-driving cars is exciting, but we aren’t there yet.  Automakers have an ethical and important responsibility to accurately market, and to carefully educate consumers about the technologies we purchase in the vehicles we drive off the lot.”

 

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety commissioned researchers from the University of Iowa to survey drivers who recently purchased a 2016 or 2017 model-year vehicle with ADAS technologies. Researchers evaluated drivers’ opinions, awareness and understanding of these technologies and found that most did not know or understand the limitations of the systems:

False expectations for ADAS systems can easily lead to misuse of the technology or an increase in driver distraction. In the survey:

Only about half of the drivers who report purchasing their vehicle from a car dealership recalled being offered training on the ADAS technology. However, for those who were, nearly 90 percent took advantage of the opportunity and completed the training.

 

For now, drivers are their best safety advocate to ensure that they understand their technology’s features, functions and limitations before driving their new car.

 

In order to reduce misuse or over reliance on the systems, AAA encourages drivers to:

For additional resources, visit AAA.com/DriverAssistanceSystem. AAA’s classroom or online Roadwise Driver course can also help drivers learn more about the functions and limitations of popular ADAS technologies available on new vehicles.