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Driver-assist tech needs to engage drivers more, says IIHS

On Behalf of | Mar 27, 2020 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

Perhaps you were injured while commuting to Boston, and you found out that the other driver was distracted. Any number of things, from billboards to phones, can become a distraction, but many drivers in Massachusetts would not think that driver-assist tech can be included among them. The reality is that it can.

The limits of Level Two automation

Driver-assist systems are devices that can take control of various driving functions without replacing the drivers altogether. Their features include lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

These systems provide what is called Level Two automation. There are five levels of automation, Level Five denoting full automation. Of course, vehicles have yet to reach that level, but some car owners seem to believe that theirs have. Complacency behind the wheel and inattention are the result.

Three IIHS recommendations for improvement

While it’s good for automakers to better educate consumers about the limits of driver-assist tech, the tech itself needs improving. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety states in a report that current systems go on operating as long as drivers hold the steering wheel and that this is hardly enough to prevent distraction.

The IIHS makes three recommendations. First, systems should have multiple methods for detecting any distraction in drivers: cameras, for example. Second, Level Two automated vehicles should come with sensors in the steering wheels to determine how quickly drivers react. The last recommendation was for alarms that alert inattentive drivers.

Legal representation for serious accidents

So you suffered serious injuries at the hands of the other driver. You may be able, then, to pursue a personal injury case rather than settle for the benefits offered under no-fault insurance. This means proving the other party’s negligence, which can be hard to do.

Legal representation may be beneficial at each step of the filing process. A lawyer may give your case personal attention, have investigators and other third parties gather what evidence there is and finally proceed to negotiations. If successful, you may be reimbursed for your past and future medical bills, lost wages and other applicable losses.