AAA Conducts Research Test on In-Car Technologies to Preventing Distracted Driving

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio- Vehicle technology and electric cars are becoming more accessible as automakers become more advanced.

One advanced feature is “self driving”, however, this can be misleading because no vehicle on the road today can drive itself without an engaged driver, according to Kimberly Schwind, an American Automobile Association (AAA) Spokesperson.

Due to this misunderstanding and a rise in deadly crashes, automakers have implemented cameras and steering wheel detection systems to prevent disengaged drivers, and AAA has created a research study to show which system is most effective.

“Researchers for AAA test drove four popular makes and models in real world conditions on a California highway, with a 65 mph speed limit. They didn’t actually use mobile devices, but they made eye movements or head movements to mimic distracted or disengaged driving to try and trick the systems,” Schwind stated. “What this research found was that both driving monitoring systems were prone to being intentionally fooled, but using the camera systems were significantly better at preventing each type of distraction than the steering wheel systems.”

The studies included methods like hands off the wheel while head up facing the road but gazing down, hands off the wheel while head and gaze aimed down to the center console or active circumventions, a method to attempt to “beat the system” through different forms of gaze/head placement.

According to AAA, the percent of time test drivers were engaged was approximately five times greater for camera-based systems than for steering wheel systems. 

“AAA recommends that automakers opt for the camera-based monitoring systems over the steering wheel systems to drive and keep drivers engaged, but more refinement is needed,” Schwind said. “In terms of drivers, AAA recommends that you understand the technology of your vehicle, what it can do and what it’s limitations are, and keep in mind that you need to be engaged in the task of driving.”

Schwind urges drivers to not try to watch videos, work, sleep or even climb into the backseat while driving as this can go undetected by the vehicle as the advanced features can be misleading and lead to a crash.