Consumers Want Safeguards With Partial Automation

Drivers prefer partial automation that comes with appropriate safeguards, a new survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.

‘Automakers often assume that drivers want as much technology as they can get in their vehicles,’ says Alexandra Mueller, the survey’s primary designer. ‘But few studies have examined actual consumer opinions about partial driving automation.’

To help fill that gap, IIHS researchers conducted a nationwide survey of more than 1,000 drivers that focused on three common features: lane centering, automated lane changing and driver monitoring.

Most partial automation systems are designed to assist with highway driving. Lane centering continuously adjusts the steering to keep the vehicle in the middle of the travel lane, while adaptive cruise control manages the vehicle’s speed and distance from vehicles ahead.

Some systems also have an automated lane changing feature, which enables the vehicle to change lanes without the driver needing to steer.