Beginner drivers are usually very confident with their skills behind the wheel. But once they hit the highway, that confidence fades out, as they must be very careful about the surroundings and potential dangers. But no worries, because it happens to experienced drivers, too.
That’s why ADAS serves as a second pair of eyes, helping every driver to indeed be confident and comfortable while driving, even when on a highway.
But what is ADAS? ADAS stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, and it’s a combination of various technologies put together to improve every driving experience while everyone feels safe and secure during the ride.
You may already have some experience with it because it includes the parking beeps, belt alerts, and all the other sensors that ensure you’re on the right path. It may even include the Valeo prototype automated driving, taking an extra step in exceptional rides.
Maybe it seems confusing now, but when you discover all the benefits one by one, you’ll surely embrace the ADAS as an integral part of your driving experience.
ADAS Explained in Details
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ADAS is not only beeping sensors and cameras. It’s an extensive system that can be categorized into a few main groups:
- A driver monitoring system keeps an eye on the driver, monitors the attention level, and notices when they’re distracted.
- Collision warning, detecting risks of collision with other vehicles, objects, or pedestrians – sometimes it even activates the brakes automatically
- Lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist in alerting you for drifts or going outside the track.
- Automatic cruise control to help you keep a safe distance from the vehicles in front and behind you and adjust the speed to the current traffic flow
Benefits of ADAS
As you suppose, systems like this come with plenty of benefits. While it keeps you safe in general, detecting the road and traffic obstacles, it’s also a great way to enhance your driving skills.
How? Let’s see:
- Very improved safety ─ ADAS reduces the risks of accidents by providing various alerts, like sounds, nudges, or even voice warnings when the situation is uncertain. Sometimes, it encourages emergency braking, which reduces the risks of collision by half.
- Reduced traffic congestion ─ ADAS offers adaptive cruise control for a smooth ride, with no need for extra stops, even in the most congested traffic conditions.
- More comfort and confidence ─ Confident drivers drive better and are more focused on the road conditions. ADAS makes the whole driving experience less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone.
- Great for drivers with some disabilities ─ Drivers who need to wear glasses or hearing aids sometimes need more time processing the alerts from the surroundings, but ADAS helps with that, as it can brake or even stop when there’s some danger ahead.
- Enhanced road safety ─ All the features and benefits we mentioned lead to one thing. Being safe and feeling secure while driving makes you more confident with your skills, lowering the risk of accidents.
Potential Drawbacks of ADAS
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Just like every other technology, ADAS also comes with some potential drawbacks. Remember, these aren’t necessarily bad things, but you must still be aware of them.
For example, over-reliance on technology can make the driver unable to adapt to other conditions, especially during system malfunctions. Sometimes, it creates a false sense of safety, making people think they can handle every driving task, resulting in decreased attention (because we rely on ADAS too much).
As we said, system malfunctions mean you need to continue driving as before. That means you must be highly alert on anything and avoid distractions to stay safe and secure.
Some drivers find ADAS too costly to install in their vehicles. Again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as people have been driving cars for decades with no technologies to help. Can you imagine how costly repair and maintenance can be, knowing the expenses related to buying and installing the gear? This is potentially the biggest drawback of them all.
In some countries, there are ethical considerations around ADAS and its capabilities. For example, in the case of an accident caused by the driver, who is responsible for it? Who decides that the driver is guilty, not the system? When you add the privacy concerns, it’s obvious why some drivers are against ADAS.
Remember, these aren’t necessarily bad things, but you must acknowledge them before making your decision to install ADAS on your vehicle.
The Future of ADAS
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ADAS is changing and developing the same way every other technology develops. There are always some new features and capabilities. We can expect many additional advanced features to make this system almost perfect for our vehicles.
When we put aside the potential disadvantages, we can say that the plan to enhance autonomous driving is a huge step in the future. Imagine driving during snow and ice, and the car brakes and has total control over the movements. It makes our lives easier, especially for those afraid to drive in such weather.
Additional features we can expect in the future are vehicle-to-everything communication, which means control over every aspect of the ride, including environment and surroundings checks, alerts of traffic and hazards, and on-time information on road conditions.
Finally, personalization means ADAS can adapt to individual driving styles, becoming the best possible assistance on the road.
Final Thoughts
ADAS is a driving assistance for everyone who needs extra assurance on the road. It’s a combination of technologies that makes us comfortable while driving while staying alert to everything happening around us. The ADAS technology is indeed advanced, but there is still enough space for development to become the perfect personal road assistant for the drivers who use it.
Being aware of the potential drawbacks means you’re ready to embrace the technologies but still able to pay attention to road conditions and traffic congestion. As a result, every ride becomes an enjoyable experience not only for the driver but also for the passengers in the vehicle.
So, don’t be afraid of ADAS. When the right time comes, you should embrace it as an integral part of driving – now and in the future.
