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Your Car's Driving Assistance Tech Isn't Meant to Be Used Alone—Here's Why

Keep your eyes on the road

By Sascha Brodsky Sascha Brodsky Senior Tech Reporter Macalester College Columbia University Sascha Brodsky is a freelance journalist based in New York City. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times and many other publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on October 17, 2022 10:23AM EDT Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Smart & Connected Life Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Many drivers count on the high-tech gadgets in their cars to keep them safe, according to a new study. Experts say that current technology doesn’t permit fully self-driving cars. Companies are developing systems that enable autonomous vehicles to see beyond the line of sight. Sergii Iaremenko / Science Photo Library / Getty Images Don't trust your car to do the driving for you, experts say. Some automakers like Tesla say that assistance technologies like Autopilot aren't meant to be used without close human supervision. But Americans may not be getting the message. A new study finds that drivers using driver assistance features often treat their vehicles as fully self-driving. "These applications still require the human to keep their eyes on the road and hands ready to take over the wheel, just as we have been doing with traditional cruise control for decades," Stan Caldwell, a professor of transportation and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University told Lifewire in an email interview.

Not Yet Full Auto

Some drivers seem to think they are riding a bus when using assistive technologies. Drivers of Cadillac Super Cruise, Nissan/Infiniti ProPILOT Assist, and Tesla Autopilot said they were more likely to perform non-driving-related activities like eating or texting while using their partial automation systems than while driving unassisted, according to the study by industry group the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And 53 percent of Super Cruise users, 42 percent of Autopilot users, and 12 percent of ProPILOT Assist users said they were comfortable treating their vehicles as fully self-driving. "The big-picture message here is that the early adopters of these systems still have a poor understanding of the technology's limits," said IIHS President David Harkey in a news release. "But we also see clear differences among the three owner populations. It's possible that system design and marketing are adding to these misconceptions." Vehicles that you can buy currently can have levels 1 and 2 automation and include applications such as automated lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, and automated emergency braking, Caldwell said. "Level 3 automation is coming, and already on some roads in Germany with Mercedes, where eyes can be off the road, but the human driver still may have to take over," he added. "My concern is that if people are already over-relying on Level 2 automation, the situation may get worse." Chris Piche, the CEO Smarter AI, a company that makes systems that use AI and cameras for car navigation and other areas, said in an email interview that today's autonomous vehicles, like Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, rely on vehicle cameras and computer vision systems to perform "line of sight" detection. "This has proven effective with moving obstacles like bicycles, pedestrians, and other vehicles. But there have been many examples of fatal collisions with stationary obstacles—like traffic barriers and parked trailer trucks—caused by autonomous vehicles' inability to identify these stationary objects that have blended with their backgrounds," Piche added. The inherent dangers in relying on automation in autonomous vehicles come down to trust, Bob Rogers, data scientist and CEO of Oii.ai, said via email. Can drivers trust that the car can handle the situations it faces? Artur Debat / Getty Images "Autonomous vehicles depend on a slew of sensors to react. So if the sensor for 'speed' malfunctions, the speed-assist can't adjust for speed limit changes," Rogers said. "If the sensor that triggers automatic emergency braking malfunctions, a driver who trusted that system is obviously going to end up in a crash." Rogers noted that car manufacturers have been touting more and more safety features in their autonomous vehicles. Blind spot technology is one advancement that helps alert drivers, especially during lane changes. He said that researchers are also fine-tuning forward collision warning systems, which alert drivers to swerve, slow down or correct their course depending on what's ahead." "Automakers want to safely transport people in those cars while they sit in the back seat or work on their laptops," he added. "So researchers will continue training AI to handle countless hazards, and drivers can expect to be less hands-on during a road-trip experience."

The Future May Be Safer

While fully self-driving cars are not yet safe enough for human transportation, AI could help. Companies, including Smarter AI, are developing V2X (vehicle to everything) systems that enable autonomous vehicles to see beyond the "line of sight"—around corners, through traffic, and without blind spots—by integrating cameras and computer vision systems with wireless sensors and networks in vehicles and transportation infrastructure including roads, intersections, and crosswalks. "Vehicle cameras, computer vision, and V2X will eliminate traffic collisions and fatalities," Piche predicted. "And by orchestrating navigation and speeds, V2X will eliminate traffic jams in even our largest cities." Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Apple Car: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors 5G: Here's Everything That's Changing How Does Lane Centering Work? 9 Things to Consider Before Buying a Dash Cam The 8 Best Driverless Car Manufacturers of 2022 What Are Autonomous Cars? Are Self-Driving Cars Legal in Your State? Electronic Stability Control and ESC Failure What Is Artificial Intelligence? Would Your Car Survive An EMP Attack? How Do Hill Descent Control Systems Work? Adaptive Cruise Control The 7 Best Dash Cams of 2022 What is Fixd and Do You Need It? What to Do When the Gauges in Your Car Aren't Working What’s the Shift to Electric Vehicles All About? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies