New technology has changed our lives dramatically and at high speed over the last three decades.

The evolution continues at a pace, not least in the world of vehicle design.

However, a growing wave of scepticism is forming around in-car safety technology.

Active intelligence

Motorists are increasingly questioning the reliability of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) amid increasing false alarms and frustrating user experiences.

Recent data from What Car? reveals a complex relationship between drivers and ADAS features.

Despite a majority acknowledging the safety benefits, many are irritated by functionality glitches: 35% of drivers surveyed admitted to switching off systems like blind-spot warnings and collision avoidance, often citing annoyance or distraction.

Even more striking, nearly 47% said they wouldn’t hesitate to buy a car without ADAS if it meant saving money, a sentiment rising to 66% among those not currently equipped with such systems.

Trust and frustration

While ADAS is increasingly essential—mandated for high Euro NCAP ratings and required in new cars under EU safety regulations from July 2024—drivers remain ambivalent.

In surveys, 58% said ADAS makes them feel safer, yet a substantial minority either disable these systems or avoid them altogether due to perceived inconvenience.

Further compounding the issue, Which? found that 54% of UK drivers have turned off at least one ADAS feature, including emergency braking (34%), drowsiness monitoring (32%), and blind-spot alerts (30%).

Many recount alarming experiences, such as unexpected steering corrections or warnings triggered inappropriately.

For example, a Hyundai i20 owner describes the steering wheel veering mid-turn as “terrifying”.

Engaging safety 

Despite frustrations, experts underline ADAS’s potential for road safety gains.

The European Commission estimates that widespread ADAS deployment could reduce lane-departure-related injuries by 20–30%.

Drivers surveyed by IAM RoadSmart and similar groups overwhelmingly appreciate the safety improvement, though many still don’t fully utilise or trust these systems.

What Car? consumer editor, Claire Evans, said: “A well-engineered driver monitoring system is an important safety aid that should help to stop drivers from becoming dangerously distracted by focusing on the infotainment touchscreen for too long, and from breaking the law by using a handheld mobile phone.

“However, it’s crucial that car makers work harder to ensure their systems only intervene when there is a genuine risk of an accident and minimise the number of false alarms.”

Evans added: “Car safety organisation, Euro NCAP, also needs to introduce far more stringent testing of these systems, penalising those that are poorly integrated into cars instead of simply rewarding manufacturers for including the technology.”

Hidden shortcomings

While known primarily for vehicle reliability rankings, What Car? also highlights user worries around ADAS.

Their findings demonstrate that drivers often question the intuitiveness and reliability of modern safety aids, suggesting that faulty alarms or poor usability can undermine trust, even in life-saving tools.

The worst-performing system, according to What Car?, was in the Leapmotor C10. 

It issued three audio and visual warnings when the test driver was looking at the road ahead, and only went off twice when the distracted driving manoeuvres were done.

The system in an MG HS also provided two false alarms on the first lap, although it did issue alerts for all four distracted driving moves.

In contrast, the system in the Mazda CX-80 worked seamlessly, providing warnings during every potentially dangerous manoeuvre, but not when the driver was concentrating.

Owner satisfaction surveys, such as Auto Express’s Driver Power, reinforce this divide.

Cars with well-integrated safety tech—like the Subaru XV, Polestar 2, and Kia Sorento—score highly for ease of activation and system reliability.

Drivers express clear preferences: they value tech that assists unobtrusively, but reject systems that complicate or distract.

Trust, education and design

For ADAS to deliver its full promise, a dual approach is essential:

  • User-friendly design: Systems must be intuitive, minimally intrusive, and easy to override—echoing calls from What Car? and consumer groups alike.

  • Driver education: As academic research shows, many users learn to use ADAS “on the road,” with only 70% activating them regularly, yet 40% still feel less safe when engaged. Better training could close that gap.

In-car safety technology holds undeniable potential to improve road safety, with the capacity to reduce crashes significantly.

Yet user frustration, false alarms, and overcomplex interfaces are undermining public confidence.

As What Car? warns that the future of ADAS depends not only on technological capability, but on ease of use, clear communication, and driver trust.