What is ADAS?
In the context of traffic accidents still being the leading cause of death in many countries, automakers are constantly investing in driver assistance technologies to improve safety. Notable among them is ADAS - the advanced driver assistance systems, considered an important stepping stone before moving towards fully autonomous vehicles.
ADAS is a collection of technologies using sensors, radar, cameras and software to support drivers in daily vehicle operation situations. From front collision warning, lane keeping, blind spot monitoring to Adaptive Cruise Control, these systems are designed to minimize risks and provide timely reflection support for drivers.
ADAS does not replace the driver, but acts as a digital assistant to monitor potential risks that the human eye can ignore, said David Zuby, research director at the IIHS.
Clear benefits but need to be understood correctly
Many studies have shown that ADAS can reduce the risk of urban collisions by up to 40% and more than 50% of accidents due to lane changes without observation. However, many drivers today still do not fully understand the operating mechanism and limitations of these systems.
Many users think that the vehicle can be completely self-driving when activating lane keeping and cruise control, which is very dangerous. ADAS only works optimally when the driver is still paying attention and ready to intervene when needed, warned Simon Roberts, chief engineer of Volvo in Europe.
In reality, some serious accidents occurred due to subjective controls, complete trust in the system without keeping the hand on the steering wheel or eyes on the road.
Diversified by segment
Currently, ADAS is no longer a "luxury" technology only available on high-end vehicles. More and more mid-range models in Vietnam and Southeast Asia are equipped with features such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings or speed limit sign recognition.
However, the quality and accuracy of ADAS still depend on each car manufacturer and actual operating conditions.
These systems often work well in developed roads and stable weather. In places with complex traffic, the system can be limited, said car technology expert Laura Kim, working at the National University of Singapore.
