Understanding ADAS technology to assist car drivers
ADAS technology is increasingly popular in modern cars, with many driver assistance features, but many people still misunderstand the role of this system.
What is ADAS?
With traffic accidents still the leading cause of death in many countries, automakers are constantly investing in driver assistance technologies to improve safety. Among them, ADAS - Advanced Driver Assistance Systems - is considered an important stepping stone before moving towards fully autonomous vehicles.
ADAS is a collection of technologies that use sensors, radar, cameras, and software to assist drivers in everyday driving situations. From forward collision warning, lane keeping, blind spot monitoring to adaptive cruise control, these systems are designed to minimize risk and support timely driver response.
Mr. David Zuby - Research Director of the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), commented: "ADAS does not replace the driver, but acts as a digital assistant to help monitor potential risks that the human eye can ignore."
The benefits are obvious but need to be understood correctly.
Many studies have shown that ADAS can reduce the risk of urban collisions by up to 40% and accidents caused by lane changes without looking by more than 50%. However, many drivers today still do not fully understand the operating mechanism and limitations of these systems.
“Many users think that the car can completely ‘drive itself’ when lane keeping and cruise control are turned on, which is very dangerous. ADAS only works optimally when the driver is still attentive and ready to intervene when needed,” warned Mr. Simon Roberts - Chief Engineer of Volvo Cars in Europe.
In reality, some serious accidents occur because the driver is subjective, completely trusting the system without keeping his hands on the wheel or eyes on the road.
Diversified by segment
Nowadays, ADAS is no longer a “luxury” technology only available on high-end cars. More and more mid-range cars in Vietnam and Southeast Asia are equipped with features such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning or speed sign recognition.
However, the quality and accuracy of ADAS still depends on each car manufacturer and actual operating conditions.
“These systems generally work well in well-developed road environments and stable weather. In complex traffic areas, the system can be limited,” said Laura Kim, an automotive technology expert at the National University of Singapore.
