Many Indiana drivers are familiar with at least some advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, which include things like rear-view cameras, lane departure warnings and adaptive cruise control. Research suggests that these safety systems have reduced the risk of certain accidents, but they are not without their drawbacks.
One researcher believes that ADAS systems have resulted in a 3.5% decrease in total car accidents, and other researchers have reported even higher changes in the number of accidents resulting in bodily injury or property damage, which have dropped 27% and 19%, respectively. These figures are particularly impressive when considering that 11% of drivers with cars equipped with forward collision warning and 17% of drivers with cars equipped with automated emergency braking turn off these features when driving. Cars equipped with blind-spot monitoring were found to have been in car accidents 14% less often than the same car models without the blind-spot monitoring equipment.
One reason that drivers may turn off their ADAS features is that the tech can create problems for drivers when it misinterprets what is going on outside the vehicle. For instance, if ADAS features incorrectly determine that a car has gotten too close to another, the systems could unexpectedly slow down the car’s speed or stop it altogether, which could be dangerous.
Another deterrent from the use of ADAS is the price of repairs and insurance. Vehicles with ADAS cost significantly more to repair, which in turn can make insurance more costly. This could mean that drivers who would otherwise be interested in ADAS systems may not install them.
Whether or not a driver has ADAS technology, a driver who is 100% responsible for causing an accident is responsible for covering the other driver’s loss. Individuals who were involved in a car accident that they feel was the fault of someone else may want to consult with a personal injury attorney.
