In-car cameras, rather than steering wheel-based alert systems, are safer and more effective when making sure drivers using a car’s advanced technologies aren’t distracting, a new AAA Automotive Engineering study reports.
But even though cameras are the better of the two systems, neither is completely foolproof in keeping drivers focused, the study said.
“Vehicle technology certainly has the potential to improve roadway safety,” said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman. “These systems are good first steps in preventing deadly crashes, but the last thing we want are ineffective features in the hands of uninformed or overconfident drivers.”
Active driving assistance (ADA) systems, which includes adapt cruise control and lane-keeping assistance, combines vehicle acceleration with braking and steering to maintain adequate following distance and proper lane position.
However, because many drivers falsely believe these technologies allow cars to self-drive, they’re apt to become disengaged or distracted while behind the wheel. In fact, there have been reports that drivers have misused such systems to watch videos, work, sleep, even climb in back seats while the car is operational.
Vehicles with the camera system monitored driver faces, while the other used touch sensors on the steering wheel to ensure drivers don’t lose focus while behind the wheel. During the tests, drivers tried to ‘trick’ the alerts of both systems with certain head or eye movements and steering wheel manipulations.
In the study, AAA evaluated ADA systems in four vehicles: a 2021 Cadillac Escalade, 2021 Subaru Forester, 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe and a 2020 Tesla Model 3 in real-world conditions on a Southern California highway.
Of the two systems, the study concluded the camera-based systems were more effective because they:
- Alerted disengaged drivers at least 50 seconds sooner when their gazes focused downward at the center console or away from the road and they removed their hands from the wheel; and
- Were more persistent in their alerts; and were more difficult to “trick.”
The study also found steering wheel-based systems:
- Required minimal input to prevent system alerts, and
- allowed about 5.5 minutes of continuous distraction on roads. In comparison, the camera system allowed 2.25 minutes of distraction.
More important, even after multiple warnings of inattentive driving, both systems failed to disable these semi-autonomous features and force the driver to take the wheel and pay attention.
AAA has shared the results with auto manufacturers and recommends they install camera-based systems in cars and further refine existing systems to minimize driver distraction.
More information on the study may be found at www.newsroom.aaa.com.