The instruments and expertise in as we speak’s automobiles not solely make them extra comfy and simpler to drive; however they’re additionally designed to assist make driving safer. Nevertheless, a examine launched late final yr by the AAA Basis for Visitors Security discovered that this superior expertise typically has the alternative impact. Actually, as drivers use automated security techniques extra typically and change into depending on it, they really can change into much less secure behind the wheel.

Dr. David Yang, govt director of the AAA Basis for Visitors Security, says that the issue with superior driver help techniques (similar to adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping help) is that drivers change into complacent and usually tend to have interaction in distracted driving habits, considering the techniques will alert them if they should tackle a state of affairs on the street. 

Nevertheless, since street and visitors situations are unpredictable and might change within the blink of a watch, it doesn’t imply that drivers could have sufficient response time to keep away from a crash or different incident.

“Over-reliance on these techniques can put drivers and others in harmful situations throughout important moments,” Yang says.

How Automated Security Techniques Encourage Driver Distractions

The AAA examine drives dwelling the purpose that drivers have to be educated about use expertise safely to ensure that it to be efficient. 

AAA researchers, in collaboration with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, analyzed video of two teams of drivers who have been utilizing superior driver help techniques (ADAS). One set of drivers already owned automobiles geared up with ADAS and have been aware of utilizing the expertise, whereas the opposite group was not as skilled in driving automobiles that includes such expertise.

For a four-week interval, all drivers got a automobile geared up with ADAS after which have been monitored to see how engaged they have been whereas driving. The researchers noticed completely different phases of driving when utilizing ADAS. 

Initially, throughout a novelty section after they have been first beginning to use the expertise, drivers have been much less prone to belief the ADAS. Because of this, they remained energetic and engaged as drivers.

Nevertheless, as they grew to become extra aware of the expertise, they began counting on it extra and finally reached a stage the place they started to place an excessive amount of belief in what the ADAS would do.  

As soon as they reached the stage of changing into over-reliant on the expertise, they have been extra prone to take their eyes off the street and never take note of what was occurring round them.

Drivers at this stage have been extra prone to be distracted, so that they weren’t ready to be responsive in essential driving environments when each second counts. In spite of everything, a automobile going 55 mph travels the size of 4 soccer fields in simply 5 seconds, and drivers who don’t have their eyes on the street received’t have the ability to react rapidly sufficient even when their expertise alerts them to an issue.

Dr. William Van Tassel, supervisor of driver coaching packages for AAA, notes that this examine serves as a reminder that expertise is designed to enhance driver consolation and security however shouldn’t take the place of diligence and a focus behind the wheel. In spite of everything, no expertise is ideal.

“Know-how fails us day by day at work and residential,” he says. “So don’t get caught driving distracted when being centered on the street can save your life.”

Offsetting the Risks of Distracted Driving

Distractions have at all times been a menace to driver security, whether or not that distraction got here from altering a cassette tape within the sprint or making an attempt to learn a map whereas driving. 

However as we speak’s drivers face extra distractions than ever, with new expertise similar to navigation techniques, in-dash leisure screens and cell phones becoming a member of acquainted attention-grabbing culprits like consuming, consuming and adjusting the temperature controls.

Because of this, despite the fact that our automobiles are getting safer, this rising array of distractions is holding drivers from being as secure as they may very well be. 

In accordance with the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA), a mean of 9 persons are killed and 1,000 are injured every single day on account of distracted driving.  

Regardless that drivers know that distracted driving is harmful, it’s nonetheless frequent. In a current survey, whereas 37% of drivers agreed that distractions from cellular units have been harmful, about 29% of them additionally admitted that texting whereas driving was their No. 1 distraction behind the wheel. And virtually 57% stated they ate or drank whereas driving. 

Whereas that is harmful for everybody on the street, it creates an even bigger drawback for firms that make use of drivers and are held responsible for the actions of these drivers. 

It’s vital for firms to teach their drivers in regards to the issues of distracted driving and the hazard of changing into too complacent with the ADAS expertise of their automobiles. Implementing options to assist make drivers safer behind the wheel can also be advisable.

3 Options to Enhance Driver Security

1. Inform drivers about ADAS options (and shortcomings).

To start with, all drivers ought to change into aware of the capabilities of the ADAS expertise of their automobile, but additionally must be made conscious of its limitations. 

Such expertise shouldn’t be a substitution for alert, diligent driving practices; it’s designed to complement these practices. Reinforce to drivers that the ADAS expertise is a device to assist them do their job higher, not an answer to do their job for them.

2. Implement a distracted driving coverage. 

Placing a coverage in writing helps clearly define the corporate’s expectations about how drivers behave on the clock. 

This will embody implementing tips similar to having all drivers modify settings just like the temperature, mirrors, radio and nav techniques earlier than the automobile is ever put into gear. It might additionally embody a rule that drivers should put their cell phones away whereas driving to keep away from the temptation to take a cellphone name or look at an incoming textual content.

One of many nice issues about requiring every driver to comply with these security procedures is that they’ll change into habits your drivers robotically implement after they’re off the clock, too, which suggests you’re serving to enhance the protection of the roads total.

3. Supply coaching to bolster your distracted driving coverage. 

Behind-the-wheel coaching is an efficient approach to present drivers, in real-time, enhance their abilities and study the right approach to maintain themselves safer whereas driving. 

One other different is an eLearning driving course similar to Smith System’s Driving Distracted coaching video, which is a good device for instructing (or reminding) drivers in regards to the risks of driving whereas distracted and gives confirmed practices for making a safer driving atmosphere.

Know-how will proceed to enhance and evolve and can provide drivers extra help — however the truth is that they’re nonetheless within the driver’s seat and wish to take care of consciousness to securely handle the altering conditions round them. 

Giving your drivers the instruments to do this, in addition to informing them about why it’s so vital, will help maintain your workers safer and keep away from the excessive prices and complications related to on-the-job crashes.