ADAS And Its Impact On Driver safety

Road safety has always been a cause of global concern and a topic of discussion on most important platforms. But with the invention of ADAS – one of the biggest breakthroughs in automotive safety technologies, there is hope to help the drivers avoid horrific accidents where there can be a risk to human life.

What is ADAS and how does it help the  drivers on the road ?

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) rapidly are becoming standard features for all light-duty cars and trucks. The role of ADAS is to prevent deaths and injuries by reducing the number of car accidents and the serious impact of those that cannot be avoided. It is  claimed by Automobile manufacturers that most of the vehicle accidents which are caused by human error, can be avoided with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

The vision of accident-free driving motivates Automobile Manufacturers like Tata, Mahindra , Toyota , Hyundai, MG Hector in India, Wuling Almaz in Indonesia, VinFast in Vietnam,  Kia and Isuzu in Philippines, BMW in Germany and Tesla in USA develop and offer vehicles with ADAS features , some active some passive .  While Tata Motors has always been a pioneer in the Indian Automotive Industry , it has introduced its first indigenously manufactured heavy vehicle truck with ADAS feature – Tata Prima

Some critical -safety ADAS applications in most modern vehicles include:

• Pedestrian detection/avoidance
• Lane departure warning/correction
• Traffic sign recognition
• Automatic emergency braking
• Blind spot detection
• Front Collision Warning

Is ADAS technology : A boon or a curse for Drivers ?

ADAS technologies  vary in complexity, so understanding their functions, limitations, and how to properly interact with them is essential for safe and efficient usage. Proper training on ADAS technology is crucial to ensure drivers understand its capabilities, limitations, and how to effectively utilize it for safe and responsible driving. If drivers are not trained and properly familiarised with ADAS technology it could become a hazard on roads because of the following reasons :

1. Misunderstanding of system limitations: ADAS systems have specific limitations and may not function optimally under certain conditions. Without training, drivers may not fully understand these limitations and may rely too heavily on the technology, assuming it can handle all driving situations. This could lead to complacency and a lack of attentiveness, potentially resulting in accidents.
2. Overreliance on technology: If drivers are not trained to understand the capabilities and limitations of ADAS, they may become overly reliant on the technology. This can lead to a false sense of security, causing drivers to neglect their responsibilities and not actively engage in driving tasks, such as monitoring the road and maintaining control of the vehicle.
3. Improper use of ADAS features: ADAS systems often require proper interaction and input from the driver. Without training, drivers may not know how to correctly engage or disengage these features, adjust settings, or interpret system alerts and warnings. This can lead to confusion, incorrect usage, or even disabling essential safety features.
4. Failure to respond to system alerts: ADAS systems provide various alerts and warnings to prompt driver intervention, such as lane departure warnings or collision alerts. If drivers are not trained on how to interpret and respond to these alerts, they may ignore or dismiss them, increasing the risk of accidents or collisions.
5. Lack of maintenance and updates: ADAS systems often require regular maintenance and updates. If drivers are not trained on these requirements, they may neglect necessary maintenance tasks, resulting in degraded system performance or malfunctioning of the ADAS features.

ADAS and Self Driving Vehicles : Are they the same ?

Many of us believe that ADAS and Self- Driving Vehicles are the same thing . But in reality ADAS and self-driving cars are very different from each other. In Autonomous vehicles (Self driving vehicle) the control is fully granted to vehicles from self-driving to handling or steering and braking. The driver does not control anything, it can drive itself in the right direction following the right path and traffic rules without colliding with any object.

Whereas Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) provides recognition and tracking information to onboard safety systems to detect driver drowsiness, lane departure warning, collision avoidance and protective features to avoid accidents and enhance the driving experience

Worldwide adoption of ADAS technology in Cars and Trucks

It’s estimated that  if ADAS became a standard on all new vehicles and if drivers are trained on the correct usage of ADAS technologies,  we could cut road deaths in half . Research shows that driver training can help drivers familiarize themselves with ADAS features and learn how to interpret and respond to their alerts and prompts. It is important for drivers to stay informed about the specific ADAS features in their vehicles and receive any necessary training or updates provided by the manufacturer .

Several countries around the world are incorporating training their drivers on ADAS features.  While countries like South Africa ,Saudi Arabia, Indonesia , Vietnam, Philippines are still in their initial stages of technology adoption some countries have certainly  taken the lead or are considering ADAS training

1. United States: Various states in America have initiated educational campaigns and programs to raise awareness and provide training on ADAS technologies.
2. Germany: The German government has introduced driver training initiatives to educate drivers on ADAS features and their proper use.
3. United Kingdom: The UK has included ADAS training in its driving curriculum, aiming to ensure drivers understand and can utilize these technologies effectively.
4. Australia: The Australian government has been promoting ADAS awareness and training programs, particularly focusing on autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.
5. Japan: As a leading country in automotive technology, Japan has been actively involved in ADAS training initiatives for drivers.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) testing in India

There is a significant rise in the demand for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) with the need to enhance road safety and driving convenience.  However the unique driving challenges and poor road infrastructure in India requires the advanced driving automated system technology to be tuned for Indian conditions . Developing ADAS  for the Indian Automotive Market requires adapting the technology to the country’s unique road infrastructure challenges. ADAS testing and validation is an extremely complex job, as it requires evaluation of almost 2,00,000 scenarios on the track or in simulation. Given the lack of a common accident scenario database, the focus area, therefore, should be data collection and scenario generation.

Since testing ADAS features on actual tracks has its own limitations , Simulator- based testing in virtual worlds with local terrains and scenarios is being used to test ADAS . With the increasing emphasis on ADAS technology worldwide , Tecknotrove- a leading simulation specialist based in Mumbai India that has developed India’s first high fidelity ADAS Driving Simulator with 3DOF motion platform for training ,testing and research of ADAS features . The first ADAS Driving Simulator by Tecknotrove has been deployed at an institute in Hamilton , Canada.

Driver training on Simulators is a must for ADAS

Regarding driver training on ADAS, there is currently no mandatory nationwide training program in India specifically focused on ADAS. However with the increasing emphasis on driver education and awareness , leading simulation training specialist  Tecknotrove has developed India’s first Advanced Driver Training simulators for training drivers in ADAS technologies like Pedestrian detection, Lane departure warning, Traffic sign recognition, Automatic emergency braking, Blind spot detection, Front Collision Warning.

Driving simulators with ADAS will help drivers in India to get familiarised with the technology and are training them on its usage to be safer on the road. Some private organizations and driving schools are using Driving simulators with programs that include ADAS awareness and usage, aiming to educate drivers on the benefits and proper utilization of these features.

While India has taken some baby steps in ADAS adoption  it is essential for logistics and automobile manufacturers to prioritise Simulation based training for ADAS enabling Cars and trucks to ensure the optimised result and Safety for Drivers !!

Tecknotrove is the most reliable and oldest  manufacturer of Driving Simulator Solutions for training and research the Automotive industry . With 30+ years of industry experience and 1000+ projects handled across 26 countries, we strive for constant innovation and deliver the most innovative training solutions that help organisations improve their productivity and safety .

Get in touch with our team on sales@tecknotrove.com  for a demonstration on ADAS driving Simulator  or to know more about simulator training benefits