ADAS System Education, What Fleet Drivers Need to Know

How Effective Use Of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Can Increase Fleet Safety

Automotive technology has saved lives for years. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, frontal air bags saved 50,457 lives from 1987 to 2017. And there’s more transformative technology coming to the industry with numerous autonomous vehicle models under development.

The goal? Reduce the nearly 40,000 vehicle-related deaths that occur in the U.S. each year. 

Some of the building blocks of autonomous-driving technology are already deployed in vehicles today. They fall under the umbrella of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning and lane-keeping assist tools. These systems fill the gaps in human perception and help drivers avoid accidents every day.

Yet, they do have limitations.

Driver Perceptions Of ADAS Systems

Researchers found that up to 80% of drivers inaccurately believed their blind-spot monitoring systems could detect high-speed passers and bicyclists and pedestrians. In reality, the system has a narrower use case of monitoring vehicles traveling within a blind spot. The system can’t currently detect high-speed vehicle passers and non-motorists.

“When properly utilized, ADAS technologies have the potential to prevent 40 percent of all vehicle crashes and nearly 30 percent of traffic deaths. However, driver understanding and proper use are 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 the proper use of ADAS technologies and their limitations.”

For fleet safety, this information has a resounding effect. Driver safety is a top priority, yet we don’t want technology to be a handicap and cause adverse behavior. Like with many things, the resolution comes from education. Drivers need to know what features are in their vehicles, and what they can and can’t do.

For Fleet Safety, Know Your Vehicle

A useful resource is MyCarDoesWhat.org. For U.S. drivers, enter the make and model of the vehicle and the interactive tool will give you a rundown of the safety features. Additionally, the tool features detailed breakdowns of each safety system—complete with videos, tips, and Q&As—plus a quick guide to help drivers engage with them properly.

For example, the Lane-Keeping Assist page explains:

• What it does: Works to keep you in your lane. Easily canceled by nudging the wheel.

• What it does not do: Will not work when lane lines are faint or covered with snow or dirt.

With this information, it’s easy to see how over-reliance on this tool can spell danger.

Wheels’ Approach To ADAS

Wheels alerts drivers about the benefits and limitations of ADAS with routine communications, hands-on learning and access to additional resources, as seen in this postcard sent to drivers in their new vehicle paperwork.

What types of ADAS system is equipped in your fleet’s vehicles? Let me know at [email protected].