Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, when they are used by drivers who know they must be alert and actively engaged in driving, can be a great help in preventing collisions. West Virginia residents may be interested to hear the results of a J.D. Power study that dates back to 2018. In that study, over half of participants said that ADAS had helped them avoid a crash in the first 90 days of owning a new vehicle.
The more well-known ADAS include lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. ADAS does not merely keep drivers and vehicle occupants out of crashes, though. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says that some devices can help to boost pedestrian safety. Sensors, for example, can alert drivers to pedestrians when backing out of parking spaces.
The study participants mentioned five devices in particular as being beneficial in the first 90 days. Just under half credited blind spot alert, and 42% gave the nod to backup cameras and parking sensors. As a side note, backup cameras are required on all new vehicles, as per NHTSA regulations.
Lastly, 35% said either the forward collision alert or AEB helped them avert a collision. The former warns drivers who speed up to a vehicle, and AEB can automatically brake when the warning is disregarded.
Still, as mentioned above, ADAS require drivers to be alert and engaged. Drivers cannot treat cars with ADAS as if they were self-driving cars. When they make this mistake and cause a traffic accident, they will be to blame. In some cases, though, victims may have partly contributed to a crash. West Virginia allows victims to file a claim against the guilty driver’s insurance company if they are less than 50% to blame. They may consult with a lawyer about the filing process.