Advanced driver assistance systems have made traveling easier for drivers nationwide by providing extra eyes and ears on the road.
ADAS uses sensors and cameras to detect potential hazards, warn drivers and take corrective action automatically. Examples include adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection and navigation systems.
New research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that available ADAS technologies could prevent approximately 37 million crashes, 14 million injuries and nearly 250,000 deaths over the next 30 years.
“The findings from this latest study on the AAA Foundation’s work in emerging technologies suggest that ADAS have the potential to transform road safety,” said Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation, in a statement. “However, the full safety benefits of ADAS will not be realized unless they are fully understood by the consumer, used properly, and widely adopted.”
While AAA’s newest study found that advanced driver assistance systems are expected to provide significant safety benefits, it will depend on consumers’ interest in buying vehicles that incorporate the technology, whether or not they engage the tech and how quickly the technologies improve.
“While these systems can be helpful for drivers, they are not perfect. So drivers must be aware of their vehicle’s limitations and remain fully engaged while behind the wheel,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA, in a release.
To come up with its estimates, the AAA Foundation partnered with the University of North Carolina to review crashes that occurred between 2017 and 2019, before ADAS was widely available.
“The future for ADAS is bright, but it’s not a cure-all,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy. “While these technologies offer substantial safety benefits, we cannot eliminate traffic injuries and deaths on U.S. roads. Investments in a diversity of proven traffic safety measures, including but not limited to vehicle technology, is in order.”
The Auto Club Group in Tampa is the second-largest AAA club in North America.
