New research from future mobility experts, DG Cities, has found a significant trust issue when it comes to driver attitudes to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). This is not only affecting uptake and usage of such systems, but also creating barriers in any transition to autonomous vehicles. 

The UK study found widespread confusion about the capabilities and limitations of ADAS systems, creating safety concerns and eroding public confidence.

"If people don't understand or trust ADAS today, we cannot expect them to embrace autonomous vehicles tomorrow," said Balazs Csuvar, Director of Innovation & Net Zero at DG Cities. "ADAS technologies are the stepping stones to full autonomy. The transition to a self-driving future relies on building public trust and confidence in these systems. Government and regulators need to act now to remove this critical barrier."

New research found that while 70% of ADAS users appreciate the benefits, over 40% feel they were not given enough information about the systems at the point of purchase. This leads to dissatisfaction with ADAS features. 

A mystery shopping investigation found that UK dealership sales agents often lacked knowledge about ADAS features, or even exaggerated their capabilities, leading to confusion and potential safety risks.

Balazs continued, "It is estimated that there will be a 30% reduction in crashes once all vehicles have ADAS features, which is very encouraging news. But this safety benefit could be undermined if drivers don't understand how to use these systems properly, or when the systems themselves aren't thoroughly tested against real-world scenarios."

Another key finding of the report highlighted that ADAS features are not rigorously tested for real-world conditions, particularly when it comes to the operations of the emergency services. DG Cities interviewed UK ambulance, fire, and police services and revealed serious issues. For example, Lane Keep Assist interferes with emergency manoeuvres by resisting centre-line crossing, and automated emergency braking can be unexpectedly activated, disrupting response times.

Balazs points out, “Currently, manufacturers are not required to pass thorough mandatory regulatory ADAS tests. Consumers and fleet operators must rely on non-compulsory Euro NCAP ratings to assess and compare ADAS performance. However, this requires participation from the manufacturer and the test scenarios the vehicle is subjected to are limited. Testing must be expanded to cover more scenarios and real-world edge cases, such as those involving emergency vehicles.”

DG Cities also found that half the respondents want an independent regulator or government entity to oversee AV safety, with only 30% trusting manufacturers to self-assess. 

The research by DG Cities has been conducted as part of DeepSafe, a consortium-led project aiming to advance the commercialisation and deployment of self-driving vehicles. Based on the technical findings combined with the research on consumer attitudes, the consortium has urged the UK government to take immediate action by:

• Developing comprehensive ADAS testing protocols to ensure safety before AVs are deployed.
• Expanding testing to include edge cases, particularly those faced by emergency services.
• Improving public communication with clear, open messaging about what ADAS and AVs can and cannot do.
• Involving the public in shaping standards to increase trust and transparency.

The research report, “Safety First? Understanding acceptance of automated vehicles”, is available to download from DG Cities’ website here.