Cars with lots of technology are not necessarily safe?

Rapidly developing technology helps cars become more modern and more convenient. Many features that were previously exclusive to luxury cars are now widely available on popular cars such as LED lights, digital dashboards, 360-degree cameras, and ADAS packages.

However, cars with a lot of technology do not necessarily mean they are really safe. According to some prestigious car safety organizations in the world, being equipped with a series of amenities and driving assistance features can make drivers more easily lose focus, thereby increasing the risk of accidents.

Overuse of ADAS can cause driver distraction.

For example, ADAS - an advanced driving assistance package with features such as lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control... is now available on a series of popular car models sold in Vietnam.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted a pilot study of 30 drivers who drove cars equipped with ADAS features for six to eight weeks on the highway. The drivers’ behavior and attitudes toward the ADAS package were assessed before, during, and after the drive.

According to the results released by this organization in late September 2023, drivers are gradually becoming more proficient with ADAS technology but rarely use it in situations where it is really necessary. Instead, they often use driving assistance features on open roads and in better weather conditions.

Drivers using ADAS also reported lower stress levels and greater enjoyment of driving. However, after 6-8 weeks of testing, the frequency of driver distraction warnings increased.

The conclusion that the AAA Foundation came to was that, initially when using ADAS, drivers were more focused on driving than in cars without ADAS. However, after a few weeks of experience, drivers began to feel comfortable, somewhat dependent, and did more personal things while behind the wheel. This led to a loss of concentration and increased risk of accidents.

Another example is the touch screen, which is now integrated by many car manufacturers with a series of important and frequently used features such as air conditioning adjustment, seat control...

According to the AAA Foundation, drivers using touchscreens to do things like find directions or send texts are typically distracted for about 40 seconds. Meanwhile, studies show that people who take their eyes off the road for more than two seconds at a time are twice as likely to have an accident.

Recently, the Euro NCAP car safety assessment organization said that cars equipped with touch screens that eliminate most physical buttons will pose many dangers to users as they have to take their eyes off the road to operate.

From 2026, if there are no physical buttons, levers or knobs for turn signals, emergency lights, horns or wipers, Euro NCAP will downgrade the safety score.

Source: https://xe.baogiaothong.vn/o-to-nhieu-cong-nghe-chua-chac-da-an-toan-192240311140825235.htm