IIHS: Current Car Automation Is Not Preventing Collisions

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) is sharing data from a study into whether partial automation driving systems help prevent collisions.  And the short answer is, no, there is little evidence that partial animation improves safety.

The IIHS says based on its research, along with that of the Highway Loss Data Institute shows, crash records and insurance data offer little evidence that partial automation systems are preventing collisions.

“Everything we’re seeing tells us that partial automation is a convenience feature like power windows or heated seats rather than a safety technology,” IIHS President David Harkey said.

The IIHS says the clearest evidence so far comes from studies of BMW and Nissan vehicles that have been on the road for a number of years. HLDI studied these vehicles in 2021. Now a new study of the same vehicles from IIHS confirms that partial automation in these vehicles doesn’t confer additional safety benefits beyond those of crash avoidance features like front automatic emergency braking (AEB).

The IIHS continues by saying that more than half the new models for sale in 2023 were available with partial automation systems as an optional or standard feature, despite mounting concern over a series of high-profile crashes that occurred while drivers were using the technology. Using cameras and other sensors, these systems can keep your car moving down the road in the center of the lane, navigating curves, slowing down to avoid other vehicles and then accelerating again when the way is clear.

However,  IIHS researchers say vehicles equipped with these systems are far from self-driving. They can’t manage many routine roadway features and traffic situations, so drivers have to pay close attention to what’s happening on the road and be ready to take over at any time. IIHS researchers call that a big challenge because the technology can encourage a false sense of security and induce boredom, causing drivers to tune out.

There is a key difference between partial automation systems and the crash avoidance features that are usually included with them but also sold separately.

• Crash avoidance features like AEB, blind spot warning and lane departure prevention only come into play when a potential danger arises — slamming on the brakes to avoid rear-ending another vehicle, for example. Because they’re unobtrusive under normal circumstances, most drivers who use them leave these features switched on all the time.
• In contrast, a partial automation system works constantly to keep the vehicle in the desired position on the road. Intended for use on highways and other limited-access roads, such systems must be switched on whenever the driver wants to use them. Most drivers do so only occasionally.

To read the IIHS entire report, click here.

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