As partial automation systems become more common, experts warn that robust safeguards are needed to prevent their misuse. The IIHS study concluded that “Designing partial driving automation with robust safeguards to deter misuse will be crucial to minimizing the possibility that the systems will inadvertently increase crash risk.”

“There are things auto manufacturers can do to help keep drivers involved with the driving task and make them use the technologies responsibly,” says Kidd. “IIHS has a new ratings program, called Safeguards, that evaluates manufacturers’ implementation of driver monitoring technologies.”

To receive a good rating, Kidd says, “Vehicles with partial automation will need to ensure that drivers are looking at the road, that their hands are in a place where they’re ready to take control if the automation technology makes a mistake, and that they’re wearing their seatbelt.” Kidd admits that no technology can determine whether someone’s mind is focused on the road and the driving task. But by monitoring a person’s gaze, head posture, and hand position, sensors can make sure the person’s actions are consistent with someone who is actively engaged in driving. “The whole sense of this program is to make sure that the [level 2 driving automation] technology isn’t portrayed as being more capable than it is. It does support the driver on an ongoing basis, but it certainly does not replace the driver.”

Read more:

Jones, W. D. (2024, October 2). Partial Automation Doesn’t Make Vehicles Safer. IEEE Spectrum. https://spectrum.ieee.org/partial-vehicle-autonomy-risk