42% of Tesla Autopilot Customers Say They Feel Comfortable Treating Their Vehicles As Fully Driverless
A shocking number of drivers who use partially-automated driver assistance features underestimate their vehicles’ self-driving abilities. One in four Tesla Autopilot drivers, and 53% of Cadillac Super Cruise customers surveyed, said that they feel comfortable treating their vehicles like full-auto driving, even though the systems technically do not meet that description.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has collected new information from the survey to reveal how advanced driver assistance (ADA) technology is perceived by drivers. The ADA system users were more likely to engage in non-driving activities such as eating and texting while driving than the rest of the drivers. Tesla, Cadillac and Nissan are some of the most popular car manufacturers with ADA tools. They typically install sensors on the steering wheel and cameras in the cabin to monitor if drivers are paying attention to the roads. However, these tools have limitations.
Autopilot and Super Cruise, which are different from Nissan’s ProPILOT Assistance, have lockout systems that prevent drivers from accessing ADA functions if they repeatedly violate failsafe. According to the report, 40% of Cadillac and Tesla drivers surveyed claimed that they have been blocked from accessing ADA features at one time or another while driving. These high numbers, according to the report, suggest that drivers often fail to pay attention to reminders and to be alerted.
The IIHS stated that “none of the existing systems is designed to replace or make it safer for a driver who has to focus on the road.” Track tests and real-world accidents have shown that today’s partially automated systems are unable to recognize common driving situations or road features.
Nissan ProPILOT Assist drivers were less likely to engage in activities that required them to be hands-free than Super Cruise and Autopilot drivers.
