This AAA study presented research comparing hands-on and hands-off ADA performance, with events occurring on average every 9 minutes during traffic, most frequently involving cut-ins and poor lane centering.
Advanced vehicle technology is becoming increasingly common, presenting each opportunities and challenges. A study evaluated five passenger vehicles equipped with low-speed-capable Lively Driving Assistance (ADA) systems, also often called Traffic Jam Assistance, in heavy traffic. The research compared hands-on and hands-off ADA performance. Notable events occurred on average every 9 minutes, most frequently involving cut-ins and poor lane centering.
“Although ADA systems might help out in certain driving situations, they are not a alternative for being attentive behind the wheel,” said Greg Brannon, director of automotive engineering research. “What we have found is that drivers actually need to remain alert and cut down on distractions, especially when things get busy on the road.”
Overall Results
In total, notable events were recorded every 3.2 miles, which is roughly every 9.1 minutes on average. A “notable” event was defined as any situation during which the ADA system didn’t handle the driving conditions adequately, as determined by the researcher driving the vehicle.
Essentially the most common incidents reported were inadequate responses to cut-ins, which required a researcher to intervene in 90% of cases. Cut-ins are defined as instances when a vehicle enters the lane directly in front of the test vehicle.
The second most frequent issue was inadequate Lane Centering Assistance. Lane Centering is a driver assistance system that uses cameras and other sensors to take care of a vehicle’s center inside its lane, providing steering assistance to forestall drifting.
Comparison of Hands-on and Hands-off Systems
Engineers reported a difference between hands-on and hands-off ADA systems. Hands-on
Systems require the driving force to maintain their hands on the steering wheel while the ADA system is in
use. The ADA system utilizes sensors similar to cameras and radar to watch the driving
environment (road condition, lane lines, etc.).
Hands-off systems allow the driving force to remove their hands from the steering wheel in most situations but may require them to place their hands back on in certain conditions. These systems use similar sensors, but in addition they commonly depend on roads which might be pre-mapped within the system.
The findings revealed that drivers of hands-on systems needed to intervene resulting from driving events thrice more incessantly than those for hands-off systems.
Though hands-free more often than not, drivers using hands-off systems were asked to re-engage by placing their hands back on the wheel roughly once every 5.5 miles or every 15.3 minutes, requiring continuous driver engagement.
Driver Recommendations
Adding advanced vehicle technology into our day by day routines offers each advantages and challenges.
To assist improve road safety, AAA recommends:
- Remain on top of things and be prepared to intervene by braking or steering in any respect times while using ADA systems. Evaluated ADA systems are never an alternative choice to an engaged driver.
- Eliminate distractions, including interacting with a smartphone. The necessity for the driving force to intervene while using ADA systems will be frequent, especially in high-traffic areas.
- Maintain awareness, stay engaged, and remain in complete control of the vehicle in any respect times, whatever the advanced driving assistance systems in use.
- Be familiar with how their system operates. Read the vehicle owner’s manual to learn when, where, and find out how to use the.
- Select a following distance that suits the driving situation to permit for more time to react
to a situation and intervene when needed.
It’s essential to prioritize safety when developing and using this technology. AAA goals to collaborate with industry leaders to reinforce testing and expand consumer education about autonomous systems as they change into increasingly widespread. AAA encourages automakers to deal with:
- Enhancing ADA performance, particularly specializing in improving cut-in response and
lane-centering behavior. - Improving the visibility of alerts related to the deactivation of ADAS features to make sure
Drivers are aware when features are lively or inactive.
Previous Research
Read “Clearing the Confusion”, a set of expanded and updated recommendations for universal terms for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features. AAA, in partnership with the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center, tested vehicles on limited-access highways, following designated routes throughout the day, to guage high-traffic situations. Each automotive was driven a median of 342 miles over a period of 16.2 hours, with GPS data, video, and audio repeatedly recorded to capture traffic conditions, vehicle behavior, and driver observations.
This Article First Appeared At www.automotive-fleet.com
