We discussed the other day the idea that driverless assist technology may actually lead to further distraction in the car.

Autopia has another article up today with a similar theme. Tests of lane keeping assist technology have not shown a reduction in insurance claims:

“What wasn’t expected in the study were findings that lane departure warning systems, which alert the driver when they begin to veer outside their lane, increased the PDL claims, although the IIHS would only say “the increases were not statistically significant [and] the results suggest these particular systems aren’t reducing overall crashes.”

 

The IIHS points out that the two vehicles it tested with the lane departure warning system – one Buick and another Mercedes-Benz – faired the worst in the study, with the Volvo tester doing slightly better, although that system also came bundled with the auto-braking feature and fatigue warning system, which could negate some of the issues.”

…

“It may be that drivers are getting too many false alarms, which could make them tune out the warnings or turn them off completely. Of course, that doesn’t explain why the systems seem to increase claim rates, but we need to gather more data to see if that’s truly happening.”

Thanks Gabriel S

In case you missed it Doug Newcomb has published an article at Wired Autopia on the transition period between our current driving habits and driverless cars. Also Doug has cross posted this article on his own blog  if you are interested in visiting his personal page.

In short, the article points out that while systems like Cadillac’s Super Cruise technology are scheduled to come to retail mid decade, drivers may become complacent using the technology:

Llaneras points out that even when the vehicle can steer itself and stay in its lane, the driver still has to deal with unexpected obstacles or events. “With autonomous vehicles,” he says, “drivers may think the system can steer around obstacles, like when a truck loses a tire tread on the freeway. But it won’t – at least not yet. The systems that we evaluated did have that capability, but it’s an example of how there’s always limitations of what it can do and can’t do, and drivers need to learn these things over time. We’re talking about what I consider for low-level interventions,” he adds. “People also need to understand the car is able to maintain the lane only if given clear markings and good weather. And it’s not going to be able to respond to obstacles that come in from the side. If a deer runs in front of the vehicle, you may be able to see it before the sensors do.”

One comment on the original article by reader ‘skellener’ was worth noting:

Autonomous cars will be amazing. I don’t see this half driving thing becoming a reality. How can you expect someone to really pay attention to they road if they aren’t in direct control? I know I couldn’t due that. I’m either gonna be the driver or a passenger. Anything in between seems EXTREMELY dangerous to me. I’m out. Either give me the wheel or let the the car drive, but none of this in between stuff. Insurance will a have a field day with this…”Um so who was driving?” “The car…” “Yeah right… so who was driving?

Your thoughts?

Edit: Of relevance is this piece describing research by GM on driver behaviour found by reader Gabriel last week.