Does ADAS Improve Road Safety?

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have emerged as a vital innovation in the automotive industry, promising to improve road safety through a range of new and shiny features and functionalities. From collision avoidance systems to adaptive cruise control, ADAS technologies are here to help drivers navigate the complexities of modern driving and reduce the risk of accidents.

In this deep dive, the 1st Call Windscreens team will be looking into the different types of ADAS, the effectiveness of ADAS in improving road safety, as well as the limitations of ADAS and what the future holds for it.

What is ADAS and how does it work?

The term ADAS covers a variety of safety features and technologies designed to help drivers operate vehicles more safely and more efficiently. These systems utilise a combination of sensors, cameras and radar to monitor what is going on around the vehicle, so it can detect potential hazards and provide timely alerts or interventions to help prevent accidents.

In what follows, we will take a look at the different types of ADAS, covering how they work and their key features.

The different types of ADAS

Collision avoidance systems

These systems use sensors to detect obstacles or vehicles in the vehicle’s path and provide warnings or automatically apply brakes to avoid collisions. While automatic braking is a part of this system, it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Lane departure warning

This alerts the driver if the vehicle drifts out of its lane without signalling and may also provide corrective steering to keep the vehicle within its lane. This is particularly useful on those long motorway stretches where staying focused can be difficult but lane discipline is vital.

Adaptive cruise control (ACC)

This allows the driver to maintain a set speed while automatically adjusting the vehicle’s speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead. So if you want to cruise at 60, your vehicle will do so until it gets too close to the vehicle in front, and then it will slow down accordingly.

Blind spot monitoring

This alerts the driver if there is a vehicle in the blind spot during lane changes, reducing the risk of collisions, very handy if your car has large window pillars or you want extra reassurance after looking behind you.

Automatic emergency braking (AEB)

AEB automatically applies the brakes to prevent or reduce the severity of collisions if the driver doesn’t respond to collision warnings in time.

Parking assistance systems

This will help drivers park by providing visual or auditory cues to guide them into parking spaces. Some newer vehicles even have self-park functions, where the system will scan the car park for a spot and then park for you – all the driver has to do is change gear and use the accelerator as necessary.

The impact of ADAS on road safety

Accident prevention

One of the key goals of ADAS is to prevent accidents by providing drivers with better situational awareness in critical driving situations. Many studies have shown that ADAS, such as AEB and lane departure warnings, can significantly reduce the likelihood of certain types of accidents, particularly rear-end collisions and lane departure accidents, which are some of the most common out there on the road.

Driver behaviour

ADAS have the potential to influence driver behaviour by encouraging and reinforcing safer driving. For example, adaptive cruise control systems can help drivers keep a safe following distance and reduce the temptation to tailgate. Similarly, lane departure warning systems can discourage distracted or drowsy driving by alerting drivers when they veer out of the lane. Over time, these systems will help drivers form safer habits.

Economic advantages

The widespread use of ADAS has the potential to have a positive impact on overall traffic safety and, in turn, have a positive effect on the economy. This is because, by preventing collisions and minimising injury where possible, ADAS technologies can help to alleviate medical costs, property damage and productivity losses associated with car accidents.

What are the problems associated with motorists and ADAS usage?

While ADAS technologies look promising for improving road safety, they are not without their issues. Let’s take a look at some of these challenges:

Limitations of the tech

ADAS may not always perform optimally in all driving conditions or scenarios, such as bad weather, poor visibility, or highly complex traffic environments. Sensor obstructions and software issues can also impact the reliability and effectiveness of ADAS systems, which is particularly problematic when paired with the following point.

Complacent drivers

There is a risk that drivers may become overly reliant on ADAS technologies and disengage from the act of driving, leading to complacency behind the wheel. This problem, known as automation complacency, can undo some of the potential safety benefits of ADAS and may even contribute to new types of accidents, especially if we become overly reliant on technology that has the capacity to be faulty.

Costs

The cost of equipping vehicles with advanced ADAS features can be an issue, particularly for lower-income motorists or fleets with large numbers of vehicles. Hopefully, this should improve over time as new technology becomes more accessible, but it’s still something we’re grappling with today as the technology is in its infancy.

Are all cars fitted with ADAS?

While Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have become much more common over the years, not all vehicles come equipped with these features as standard; availability tends to vary based on factors like make, model and trim level.

Luxury car manufacturers often offer more advanced ADAS features, while mainstream models may have basic systems as optional upgrades. Retrofitting and aftermarket solutions are viable options for adding ADAS to older vehicles, but for those motorists who are driving older vehicles, putting the money towards these systems is unlikely to be something they would deem worth it.

The Future of ADAS

Despite the issues and challenges associated with ADAS, the future is looking promising for further improving road safety and making a smooth transition to autonomous driving.

Sensor technology, artificial intelligence and connectivity are improving every year, enabling more complex systems capable of dealing with a wider range of driving environments and scenarios.

In order to continue moving forward in a positive direction, ongoing collaboration between automotive professionals and policymakers will be important to maximise the benefits of ADAS while safely addressing the challenges that come with it.

1st Call Windscreens is a leading windscreen repair and replacement specialist for customers throughout Kent. We offer windscreen recalibration services for vehicles with ADAS fitted, so you can be sure that your vehicle will be working optimally when we’re finished working on it. For more information about our services, all you need to do is get in touch!

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1st Call Windscreens

We are proud to be a leading windscreen company covering our local areas of Maidstone, Sittingbourne and the rest of Kent since 1996. Our 25+ years experience in windscreen services includes windscreen repair and replacement for cars, vans, trucks and more! Our expert technicians hold the relevant qualifications so you can rest easy knowing that your windscreen is in safe hands.