How Can Differentiating Fully Automated Driving Systems Be Differentiated From Self-Driving? A Case Study by Nissan and Tesla
“These results suggest that small differences in system design can nudge drivers toward safer habits,” said IIHS president David Harkey in a statement.
Most people can’t differentiate fully automated driving systems from radas. If the car performs autopilot as well as controlling speed, brakes, lane centering, and blind spots, then it is self-driving or at least competent enough to do so. It’s no surprise people conflate driver-assistance systems with self-driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a three-year investigation into the accidents and led to a recall of the software that is supposed to perform some driving tasks without a driver. The agency concluded that the system didn’t ensure that drivers paid attention and were in control of their vehicles. Other auto brands, such as GM and Ford, perform some driving tasks but also mandate that drivers pay attention behind the wheel. The systems only work in areas that have been mapped.
There are also more instances of distracted driving when using ADAS — and why wouldn’t there be? When an ADAS frees up your hands from the task of driving, what are drivers most likely to do with that free time? Pick up their cell phones.
Steering input was not allowed in some models. Ford’s BlueCruise and Nissan / Infiniti’s ProPilot Assist remain switched on when the driver makes steering adjustments within the lane, which IIHS refers to as “shared control.” GM’s Super Cruise and Tesla’s Autopilot system turn off lane centering support when the driver gives steering input. Nissan and Tesla require drivers to keep their hands on the wheel, while Ford and GM allow hands-free driving under certain conditions.
The survey results revealed that those whose vehicles allow shared control were “40-48 percent less likely than the others to say they would keep their hands off the wheel in situations that would make most drivers nervous,” IIHS says.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made it mandatory for manufacturers to report crashes involving self-drives as well as Level 2 driver assist systems. Companies are now required to report crashes when ADAS is used in less than 30 seconds. Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, as well as Ford’s BlueCruise, are both currently under investigation.
Ben Nassi, a researcher at Ben-Gurion University who worked on the paper, says the research was inspired by news that some cars using the electric carmaker’s advanced driver assistance feature crashed into emergency vehicles. “It was pretty clear to us from the beginning that the crashes might be related to the lighting of the emergency flashers,” says Nassi. “Ambulances and police cars and fire trucks are different shapes and sizes, so it’s not the type of vehicle that causes this behavior.”