Driver assistance technologies are becoming increasingly common in new vehicles, but a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) suggests that a lack of consumer understanding could be undermining their potential safety benefits.
The GAO’s report, released in March 2024, emphasizes the crucial role of driver education in mitigating risks associated with these technologies. Improper use of driver assistance features, such as turning off safety systems or over-relying on convenience features, can increase the likelihood of accidents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for educating drivers about vehicle technology. One of the primary tools NHTSA uses for this purpose is the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). However, the GAO report indicates that updates to NCAP, which could help consumers better understand these technologies, have been significantly delayed.
Key Findings of the GAO Report
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Consumer Understanding: The report highlights that many drivers do not fully understand the capabilities and limitations of driver assistance technologies. Some studies show a significant percentage of consumers misperceive the limitations of crash avoidance systems.
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Partial Driving Automation: Misuse is a major safety concern in partial driving automation systems, which require the driver’s full attention.
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NCAP Delays: NHTSA’s planned upgrades to NCAP, designed to provide more comprehensive information to consumers, have faced substantial delays and missed deadlines.
Recommendations and NHTSA’s Response
The GAO made five key recommendations to NHTSA, including:
- Finalize and Communicate NCAP Roadmap: NHTSA should finalize the NCAP roadmap with realistic timelines and communicate its progress to the public.
- Provide Information on Partial Driving Automation: NHTSA should provide more information about partial driving automation systems, clarifying their intended use and the driver’s responsibilities.
- Communicate Test Conditions and Criteria: Information about NHTSA’s testing criteria should be made available to the public.
- Update Milestones: NHTSA should communicate progress on meeting time frames and provide updated milestones and reasons for delays as needed.
- Develop Rating System and Redesign Sticker: NHTSA should complete a rating system and redesigned new car sticker, communicating updates to the public.
NHTSA agreed with all of the GAO’s recommendations. As of August 2024, NHTSA stated that they are working on redesigning their website and finalizing their roadmap. They anticipate completing these updates by the end of 2024.
The GAO will continue to monitor NHTSA’s progress in implementing these recommendations.
