Adaptive cruise control could increase the likelihood of a car crash, according to recent research from the Netherlands.
The study – titled ‘Rethinking Advanced Driver Assistance System taxonomies: A framework and inventory of real-world safety performance’ – found using adaptive cruise increased incident rates by eight per cent in real-world scenarios, while standard cruise control was also responsible for a 12 per cent increase.
The authors of the research attribute the undesirable safety outcomes to driver distraction and unrealistic expectations of cruise control.
“The observed detrimental effects of such systems may result from insufficient supervision of the system by users, in turn due to inappropriate expectations of system capabilities.”
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Data for the study was collated from a wide range of reports on crash causation, mainly sourced from governments or institutions such as insurers. The largest study sampled for the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) research evaluated a dataset with 47 million vehicles and 2.4 million crashes.
Both types of cruise control were the only ADAS features shown to elevate the chances of a crash, while other common safety systems such as lane-keep assist and driver attention monitoring were found to reduce the chances of a crash by 19 and 14 per cent, respectively.
A total of 28 ADAS functions were assessed as part the report, split into four categories; ‘informing’ systems, ‘warning’ systems, ‘intervening’ systems, and ‘comfort-enhancing’ systems. Both forms of cruise control fit into the latter category.
The safety systems tested ranged from tyre pressure monitoring and adaptive headlights, through to satellite navigation and alcohol locks.
Comfort-enhancing systems were the only type shown to negatively impact crash rates, with all other safety features had a positive influence.
Vehicle safety technology has been a hot topic in recent weeks, as new autonomous emergency braking (AEB) regulations in Australia have forced established brands to kill off multiple models that will no longer be compliant.
Mitsubishi has axed the ancient ASX, Eclipse Cross and Pajero Sport, Mazda has called time on the 6, while production of the current Suzuki Ignis, S-Cross, Vitara and Swift Sport has ended for Australia.
Three-door variants of the Suzuki Jimny also face a sales hiatus, as the system fitted to the three-door is non-compliant with the regulations, though the newer five-door Jimny XL’s AEB does meet the new standards.
MORE: Suzuki ends production of multiple models for Australia as new safety regs loom
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