As part of our investigation, we asked drivers to share their thoughts about ADAS in general. While some drivers who got in touch spoke positively about their experiences, most were damning in their condemnation of the system.
Below, we’ve published a selection of comments from Which? members, but it’s important to state that, in general, we don’t recommend turning off safety tech. Instead, it’s better to fully understand the tech and take action to make it work as best as possible for you – we’ve included some tips on how to do this below.
This showed that around half of the respondents were turning off at least one ADAS feature; you can .What you told us about lane assist
Of all the driver assistance tech, most of the complaints we received were about lane assist, which is designed to keep your car in its intended lane.
Gerald Wilson, who had rented a Cupra to use on a foreign holiday, said: ‘We have become resigned to being nagged about lane-keeping’. An Audi A5 driver described their car’s lane assist technology as ‘very dangerous’.
Meanwhile, George Wigglesworth, who drives a Toyota Land Cruiser, simply described the car’s lane assist tech as ‘lovely’.
How to make lane-assist work better:
What you told us about speed-limit warnings
Designed to warn drivers when they’re going too fast, speed-limit warnings proved troublesome for plenty of drivers.
Gerald Wilson, who rented a Cupra while abroad, went further, describing the system as ‘demonic’. He told us: ‘Picture it. I’m driving at speed on the motorway at 110 km/h. The car suddenly brakes to 40 km/h because it has glimpsed a speed restriction on a side road – this is downright dangerous.’
How to make speed-limit assist work better:
What you told us about AEB
Plenty of drivers also mentioned issues with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) technology, which is designed to bring the car to a sudden and complete halt if it detects an object in its path.
Meanwhile, Ian Cartwright, who used to own a Jeep Compass 4xe, said that the car’s AEB was ‘overly sensitive and intrusive’. However, he added that his latest car, a Mini Countryman Electric, is much better and described its safety systems as ‘perfectly acceptable’.
How to make AEB work better:
What the manufacturers say
We gave all the brands featured above the opportunity to respond to the criticisms of ADAS technology.
Hyundai told us: 'Like any camera or sensor-based technology, ADAS performance can on occasion become impaired by external factors such as ambient weather, driving style or poor road conditions and markings. In the event of influence from an external factor, drivers can choose to easily deactivate ADAS functions to ensure consistent vehicle performance. ADAS aren't intended to provide completely autonomous functions; the driver will always retain ultimate control over their vehicle. Hyundai is constantly developing ADAS systems to enhance driver feedback and further improve driving safety.'
Kia told us: 'The safety of all road users and pedestrians is Kia’s highest priority, with every product meeting or exceeding recognised standards for both passive and active safety. To enhance the driving experience and personalisation options, Kia offers customers free software updates. These updates help ensure that drivers have access to current and reliable map data. The most recent OTA [over-the-air] release introduces a more streamlined interface for adjusting safety system settings, alongside a range of other convenience features.'
Volvo told us: 'Our lane keeping aid is designed as an added 'just-in-case' layer of safety to help prevent accidental high-speed lane departures through warnings and steering interventions. It exists to support the driver and doesn't reduce or replace the need for them to stay focused on driving.
'We spend countless hours calibrating these technologies and aim to deliver the right level of support without being over or under-intrusive. While individual views may differ...overall the feedback we have received from thousands of owners helps give us confidence that our application of this technology is effective and well balanced.'
Meanwhile, Volkswagen said: 'Without having the details on these cars or the time to investigate the individual cases, it’s impossible to give a meaningful response. Suffice to say, all driver assistance technology features are designed to – and do – make driving safer and more convenient.
'We’d urge any owners who believe the technology isn't functioning correctly in their specific vehicle to speak to their retailer, both to understand how it's intended to work and to make sure there are no faults.'
Expert opinion: ADAS can be annoying, but don't turn it off
Dino Buratti, Which? cars expert
The stories we’ve heard from drivers are a clear signal that many manufacturers need to work harder to create assistance technology that’s fit for use on public roads.
It's also unsurprising that negative experiences lead people to lose trust in the tech, causing them to turn it off every time they drive – a far from ideal outcome.
While some tech can be annoying, it could also potentially save your life – particularly AEB and emergency lane keep (where the car intervenes if it thinks you’re unintentionally straying out of lane).
Similarly, blind spot monitoring systems, which warn you of nearby vehicles when you’re changing lanes, are hugely beneficial on dual-carriageways and motorways, especially since most modern cars have poor all-round visibility.
As highlighted above, there are several things you can do to ensure any tech your car has works as well as it can. We’d also recommend thoroughly familiarising yourself with your car’s safety tech and its various settings, particularly when driving a car for the first time. Similarly, avoid making adjustments while driving, as this can be distracting and potentially dangerous.
We’re continuing to work with industry bodies on how driver assistance tech is integrated into cars and tested to make sure it works in the real world.
Drive smarter and cut costs using our expert advice: undefinedsource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/dangerous-annoying-and-absolutely-hopeless-what-youve-told-us-about-driver-assistance-tech-aHSgk7w3k8sJ