Survey reveals majority of drivers recognise life-saving benefits of ADAS

A comprehensive new survey commissioned by Thatcham Research and conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has revealed that 82 per cent of UK drivers feel safer thanks to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), with 55 per cent saying the technology helped to prevent a collision in the past year.

The research demonstrates that ADAS technology is delivering on its promise to improve road safety, with more than 82 per cent of surveyed drivers reporting they feel safer when driving vehicles equipped with ADAS features.

Key safety technologies including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), blind spot information systems (BLIS) and driver drowsiness protection systems were identified as delivering the most significant benefits to drivers.

Thatcham Research principal ADAS engineer, Yousif Al-Ani, said these findings “validate the critical importance of ADAS technology in modern vehicle safety”.

“When more than half of drivers report that these systems have actively prevented collisions, it reinforces what we see in our own testing: ADAS is reducing collisions and improving road safety, despite early implementation challenges leading to driver dissatisfaction,” he added.

The survey also highlighted areas for improvement in ADAS implementation. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of respondents indicated that some ADAS features can be distracting, irritating or intrusive during driving, demonstrating that there is still work to be done before all vehicles in the market perform well in the real-world.

Al-Ani is keen to assist vehicle makers in developing ADAS that goes beyond regulatory compliance. “Our role is to champion systems that not only pass the tests, but also reduce injuries and help drive lower insurance costs for consumers,” he said.

“This survey data shows that we’re on the right track but also highlights the importance of our continued work with car manufacturers to refine these systems and reduce false activations that can frustrate drivers.

“We need to go beyond controlled testing environments to understand how safety systems behave in real-world conditions, so the technology works when it matters most, without causing unnecessary frustration or distraction for drivers.”