Understanding ADAS technology that assists car drivers.
ADAS technology is becoming increasingly common in modern cars, offering many driver assistance features, but many people still misunderstand the role of this system.
What is ADAS?
With traffic accidents remaining the leading cause of death in many countries, automakers are constantly investing in driver assistance technologies to enhance safety. Prominent among these is ADAS – Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, considered a crucial stepping stone 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 provide timely driver response.
David Zuby, research director at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), stated: "ADAS doesn't replace the driver, but acts as a digital assistant to monitor potential hazards that the human eye might miss."
The benefits are clear, but they need to be understood correctly.
Numerous studies indicate that ADAS can reduce the risk of collisions in urban areas by up to 40% and accidents caused by lane changes without observing traffic signals by over 50%. However, many drivers still do not fully understand the operating mechanisms and limitations of these systems.
"Many users mistakenly believe that the car can 'self-drive' completely when lane-keeping and cruise control are activated, which is very dangerous. ADAS only works optimally when the driver remains attentive and ready to intervene when necessary," warned Simon Roberts, Chief Engineer of Volvo in Europe.
In reality, some serious accidents occur because drivers are careless, trusting the system completely without keeping their hands on the steering wheel or their eyes on the road.
Diversity by segment
Nowadays, ADAS is no longer a "luxury" technology found only in high-end vehicles. More and more mid-range cars in Vietnam and Southeast Asia are equipped with features such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and speed limit sign recognition.
However, the quality and accuracy of ADAS still depend on the specific vehicle manufacturer and actual operating conditions.
"These systems generally work well in well-developed road environments and stable weather conditions. In areas with complex traffic, the system may be limited," said Laura Kim, an automotive technology expert at the National University of Singapore.
