Assessing the Impact of Driver Assistance Technology: A Review of Non-Crash and Crash Studies

Abstract: Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), sometimes referred to as partial automation systems, control both longitudinal and lateral motion of a vehicle under driver control and supervision. Level 2 systems are increasingly common in commercially available vehicles, and there has been extensive study of the potential impact of these systems on crash risk. Historically, studies of these systems have used proxies for crash risk, such as driver behavior and attentiveness, to predict the eventual influence of these systems on real-world crash rates. However, recently, real-world crash studies have been conducted for L2 systems from multiple manufacturers. This paper provides a review of both non-crash and crash-based evaluations of Level 2 systems, including a new analysis of crash data published by Tesla. Overall, while non-crash assessments of Level 2 systems have been mixed, all crash studies published to date point to a reduction in risk associated with such systems. This review also suggests improvements to non-crash studies that may increase their predictive value.

Keywords: Partial Automation, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, ADAS, Level 2, L2, Crash Rates

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005223

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