Many drivers don’t understand “smart” cars

On Behalf of | Oct 2, 2018 | Firm News, motor vehicle accidents |

The ability to save time while becoming more efficient is a common desire among many busy California professionals. Fully self-driving vehicles will allow for more productivity during necessary commute times, but the technology is not quite there yet.

The current driver assistance systems being implemented in greater numbers each year are designed to make drivers better able to face the challenges of the road and remain safe. However, many drivers fail to understand that technology has its limits. The innovations currently in place do not replace the actions of the driver but instead assist the driver. When a vehicle is driven relying solely on the available technology without human oversight, unsafe action and accidents are more likely to occur even if the technology is performing flawlessly.

As an example, forward-collision warning and automatic braking are two separate and distinct systems. Studies show that 40 percent of drivers don’t know the difference, yet one can imagine the consequences of believing an automatic stopping system is in place when in fact only an alarm-like warning will sound. Other areas of common confusion and over-reliance occur in blind-spot monitoring systems and adaptive cruise control for speed monitoring.

Ultimately, no matter what type of vehicle is driven and with whatever technology aids, it is the responsibility of the individual driver to drive in a reasonable manner that keeps others on the roadway safe. To determine the actual cause of a motor vehicle accident and receive compensation from the negligent party, it may be beneficial to contact a personal injury lawyer.