The IIHS Reveals Which Driver Assistance Systems Actually Work

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that while some driver assistance systems, such as front crash prevention, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring, are beneficial for vehicle and pedestrian safety, others like adaptive cruise control and lane centering technology do not show a clear benefit. According to Jessica Jermakian, the IIHS’s senior vice president of vehicle research, the data does not support the effectiveness of these higher-level driver assistance systems, and instead, they may even distract drivers and lead to secondary tasks. The IIHS suggests that more technology, such as driver monitoring systems, is needed to keep drivers engaged and focused on the road. The Institute will continue to push automakers to raise their safety standards, including the implementation of impaired driver detection systems, which are mandated to be in all new cars sold in the US by 2027. However, the technology is still in its infancy, and the IIHS plans to raise the standards of its Top Safety Pick+ award to include features that detect signs of impairment. The goal is to reduce US road deaths by 2030, and the IIHS believes that technology can play a crucial role in supporting safe driving decisions, such as intelligent speed assistance (ISA).