New Insistence for Driver Assistance

Panelists at SAE International's 2021 Government/Industry Meeting say assisted-driving technology is worthwhile - but effective driver monitoring is crucial.

A panel of automated-driving experts at early February's virtual presentation of SAE International's annual Government/Industry Meeting had strong opinions on the current state of advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) technology. Although most concurred that so-called “low-level” assisted-driving technology (usually referred to as Level 2 in the SAE Standard for levels of driving automation) can enhance safety and help to prevent accidents, there is considerable variation in functionality and user interface. This has fostered consumer confusion and mitigates the technologies' potential, they noted.

The “Leveling Up: Path to Increased Driver Assistance” panel stressed one critical point. To derive maximum effectiveness from Level 2 assisted-driving technology - such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist (LKA) or Level 2 integrated systems such as Cadillac's Super Cruise or Nissan's ProPilot Assist - a stringent driver-monitoring system (DMS) is needed to ensure the driver is attentive. Some on the panel suggested regulators in the U.S. and Europe should fast-track either a voluntary agreement or an outright requirement for automakers to fit DMS in every ADAS-equipped vehicle.