# Study Reveals Distracted Driving Increases with Driver-Assistance Systems
## Introduction
Recent research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has unveiled concerning trends regarding driver behavior when utilizing advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). The study highlights how these technologies, designed to enhance safety, may inadvertently encourage distractions among drivers.
## Key Findings from the IIHS Study
– **Increased Distractions**: The study indicates that drivers are more likely to engage in distracting activities, such as using their phones or eating, when driver-assist features are activated.
– **Monitoring Driver Behavior**: IIHS monitored a total of 43 drivers—29 using Volvo’s Pilot Assist and 14 utilizing Tesla’s Autopilot—to assess their behavior over a month-long period.
– **Manipulating Distraction Alerts**: Researchers discovered that drivers quickly adapted to the systems’ distraction alerts, often tricking the technology into believing they were attentive.
## Understanding the Impact of Driver-Assistance Systems
David Harkey, President of IIHS, emphasized the implications of the findings: “These results are a good reminder of the way people learn. If you train them to think that paying attention means nudging the steering wheel every few seconds, then that’s exactly what they’ll do.”
### Volvo’s Pilot Assist Findings
The study began with 29 drivers using the Pilot Assist feature in a 2017 Volvo S90. Over the four-week observation period, it was noted that:
– **Increased Multitasking**: Drivers were significantly more likely to check their phones or engage in other manual activities while using the Pilot Assist system compared to driving without assistance.
– **Comfort Leads to Distraction**: As drivers became more familiar with the technology, their tendency to multitask increased, indicating a potential risk as they grew more comfortable with the system.
### Tesla’s Autopilot Insights
In the second phase of the study, 14 participants who had no prior experience with driver-assist features were given a Tesla Model 3 for a month. Key observations included:
– **Rising Distraction Rates**: The frequency of attention reminders per 1,000 miles traveled with Autopilot increased by 26% over the month, suggesting that drivers were becoming more distracted as they adapted to the system.
– **Behavioral Adaptation**: The percentage of time drivers were disengaged during alerts also rose, even as the duration of alerts became shorter. This indicates that drivers were learning to manage their attention in ways that undermined the system’s safety intentions.
## Conclusion
The IIHS study reveals a critical need for more robust safeguards in partial automation systems. As drivers adapt their behavior to exploit the limitations of these technologies, the potential for distraction-related incidents increases. Harkey’s conclusion underscores the necessity for manufacturers to implement stricter measures to ensure that driver-assistance systems fulfill their intended purpose of enhancing safety rather than enabling risky behavior.
For further insights on reducing distraction-related accidents, check out [Pennsylvania’s initiative to ban phone use while driving](https://www.carscoops.com/2024/05/pennsylvania-to-ban-drivers-from-using-phones-to-reduce-distraction-related-accidents/).
*The study group tested Volvo’s Pilot Assist and Tesla’s Autopilot systems.*