Users of Adaptive Cruise Control report they tend to change lanes less frequently when using the system, but many drivers are unaware of the limitations of technology.

Results from survey of Automobile Club of Southern California users of in-vehicle technologies.

Date Posted

10/20/2011

California, United States

California,

United States

Identifier

2011-B00722

Use of Advanced In-Vehicle Technology by Younger and Older Early Adopters

Summary Information

The report describes the results of surveys sent by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in cooperation with the Automobile Club of Southern California (ACSC). The surveys were designed to assess drivers' experiences with backing aids (proximity sensing systems, rear-view video cameras, adaptive cruise control (ACC), advanced HID (high-intensity discharge) and built-in vehicle navigation systems. The report does not address portable navigation units that are sold as after-market devices.

RESULTS

Survey results from ACC users in Southern California found that more than half of the respondents agreed that when they use ACC they tend to change lanes less frequently. However, many drivers were not aware of the limitations of their systems, which raises safety concerns. Many drivers thought their ACC systems would help avoid a collision in situations outside the capability of most systems including:

Encountering a stopped vehicle in the lane ahead (43 percent)
Following a vehicle in stop-and-go traffic (24 percent)
Following a vehicle on a curve (27 percent)

Drivers need to be better informed about situations in which their ACC is unlikely to react. The writers concluded that more research is need to determine the overall safety impact of these systems.