Toronto, Ontario -- Drivers are finding the many high-tech advanced driver assistance software features included on late model vehicles irritating, a new survey has found.
Published by the short-term insurance provider Tempcover, the survey was based on responses from 2,000 British drivers. It found that complex features are leaving the majority (60 percent) of drivers feeling overwhelmed by their tech-heavy vehicles.
It also found lane assist systems to be the most reviled feature with close to a quarter (22 percent) of respondents indicating it was their least favourite. Voice control and app-based remote access systems tied for second place, each securing thumbs down from 17 percent of respondents.
Drivers were far more positive about features included in vehicles to improve driver comfort. Close to half -- 42 percent -- said air conditioning was a must-have. Some other ADAS tech also received the approval of respondents. Close to one-in-three respondents said parking sensors (29 percent) and reverse or 360-degree cameras (24 percent) were must-haves.
Despite the concerns about ADAS systems, about two-thirds (67 percent) said they trust their vehicle’s safety systems and 40 percent would be comfortable in a fully autonomous car.
A second study from Warrantywise echoed these findings, with 61 percent of drivers admitting they rarely use many high-tech features. Nearly a quarter said they had switched off systems like lane keep assist altogether. Many couldn’t identify dashboard alerts for features like cruise control, raising concerns that drivers are under-prepared for the cars they drive.
Another recent study from Australia’s Monash University Accident Research Centre found one-in-five drivers intentionally disable advanced driver-assistance systems, such as lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.
Nearly half of those drivers said the systems made them feel anxious or distracted. A slightly smaller group (41 percent) said they didn’t trust the technology to function correctly, while close to a third (30 percent) saying they found the features irritating.
