Drivers Shun Life-Saving Car Tech: Why?

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have the potential to prevent over 7,000 road casualties in Australia each year, yet many drivers are reluctant to use them. A year-long study by IAG found that a full uptake of these systems could reduce road casualties by 20% annually. Despite crash data showing significant reductions in specific accident types linked to ADAS, 60% of drivers with these features disable some of them.

Research indicates that driver trust is the strongest predictor of ADAS usage, and a single guided test drive can significantly increase confidence. However, there's a notable education gap, with only 19% of recent driving students receiving instruction on this technology. As the federal government mandates car-to-pedestrian Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) for all new passenger vehicles sold from August 1, 2026, and Lane Keep Assist from March 2029, improving driver education and collaboration across the automotive and road safety sectors is deemed critical. This will ensure drivers feel confident using these life-saving features, ultimately reducing collisions and saving lives.