IIHS Sets Standards for Automakers to Improve Driver Monitoring in Electronic SystemsMajority of Driving Assistance Systems Receive 'Poor' Rating in New Study

According to a recent study by the insurance industry, most electronic systems that assist with driving tasks for humans are not doing enough to ensure that drivers are paying attention.

The study, published on Tuesday, found that out of 14 partially automated systems tested, only one received an "acceptable" rating. Two were rated "marginal" and the rest were rated "poor." Surprisingly, none of the systems received a "good" rating.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) developed these new ratings in order to establish standards for automakers to follow. This includes closely monitoring drivers and issuing timely warnings if they are not paying attention. The institute also aims to address the "regulatory void" created by the lack of action from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to Harkey, the agency needs to do more to set standards for these systems, as they are not capable of fully driving vehicles on their own. A request for comment from the agency was left unanswered.

Automakers closely follow IIHS safety ratings and often make changes to comply with them. The 14 systems tested, which include various versions from different automakers, are among the most advanced systems currently on the market, according to Harkey. Only one of the systems, called Teammate in the Lexus LS, received an "adequate" rating. General Motors' Super Cruise in the GMC Sierra and Nissan's Pro-Pilot Assist with Navi-Link in the Ariya electric vehicle were both rated "marginal." The remaining systems from Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Ford, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo were all rated "poor."

Harkey explains that these driving systems were originally intended to be a combination of safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, lane centering, and blind-spot detection. However, they now give drivers the ability to not pay attention for extended periods of time, which can create safety risks. Some automakers even market these systems in a way that may lead drivers to believe they are fully autonomous, which is not the case. According to Harkey, this misinterpretation is something that must be avoided at all costs.

IIHS states that the systems must be able to detect if a driver's head or eyes are not focused on the road, and if their hands are not on the wheel or ready to take control if needed. Additionally, if the system does not detect the driver's attention, it should issue audible and visual alerts within 10 seconds, and within 20 seconds, it should add a third alert or initiate an emergency procedure to slow down the vehicle.

Automakers are also responsible for making sure that safety systems, such as seat belts and automatic emergency braking, are activated before the driving systems can be used. Unfortunately, none of the 14 systems tested met all the requirements for driver monitoring, although Ford's system came close, according to the IIHS.

Lexus' Teammate system and GM's Super Cruise met the warning requirements, while systems from Nissan and Tesla were close. Harkey notes that automakers are already taking action in response to the tests and are making necessary changes, many of which can be implemented through software updates.

Toyota, which manufactures Lexus vehicles, states that it takes IIHS ratings into consideration when setting up safety standards. General Motors also emphasizes the importance of IIHS ratings, while Nissan says it will work with the institute. Mercedes acknowledges the findings and stresses the importance of collaboration between the system and the driver. BMW, on the other hand, respects IIHS' efforts but has a different philosophy on how systems should monitor drivers. One BMW system evaluated by IIHS does not allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel and only relies on input from steering wheel sensors. Although another more advanced system, designed for hands-free driving, uses a camera to monitor the driver. Ford states that its Blue Cruise system repeatedly monitors drivers and sends warnings, but it disagrees with IIHS' findings and will consider their feedback in future updates. Other automakers have yet to comment on the study.

David Lamy
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