—but does it really work? According to top safety expert David Harkey at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(IIHS), the evidence is inconclusive.
“Partial automation systems may make long drives seem like less of a burden, but there is no evidence that they make driving safer. In fact, the opposite may be the case if systems lack adequate safeguards,” said Harkey as reported by
So yes, while increased ease of driving seems to be a net positive, experts like Harkey imply that without proper safeguards, these automated features could actually lead to more instances of distracted driving.
Are self-driving cars the future?
From automated braking systems when your vehicle detects a pedestrian or obstacle, to lane-centering systems that keep your car from swerving too far out, it seems that the final frontier in automation is the fully self-driving car.
While automobile manufacturers appear to be in a race to make self-driving cars mainstream, the IIHS cautions against this trend.
“Some manufacturers have oversold the capabilities of their systems, prompting drivers to treat the systems as if they can drive the car on their own,” said the IIHS.
MORE: Did You Know? Rearview Cameras Have Been Around Since the '50s
One of the drawbacks to such rapid technological advancement is that it can be hard to implement safety rankings and regulations at the same clip as these systems are being produced. Nationwide, government-implemented safety rankings are also often delayed by the trappings of bureaucracy and public input.
As an insurance-industry-funded safety agency, the IIHS has an impetus to make automobile accidents as uncommon as possible and can do so without tedious outside oversight.
That's why the IIHS announced that they themselves will be launching a new safety rankings system, specifically designed to evaluate the safety of automated features.
The safety rankings will not test the features of the automated system itself, but rather the adequacy of warnings given to the driver should their eyes, hands, and attention drift from the task of driving.
costs are largely calculated on risk, and the safer drivers can be, the more money that they can save on car insurance. While getting a car with the newest, most advanced automation features may be exciting for tech and automotive enthusiasts, it's always important to cross-reference these features with recommendations from trusted safety experts.
As car safety rankings are ever-evolving, your insurance premiums and policies will evolve with them. To ensure you always have the lowest rate, car insurance and broker app
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