Consumer_Reports_-_April_2020

HE ADVANCED

DRIVER assistance

systems (ADAS) that

are now commonly

found on new vehicles

may help to prevent

crashes and reduce injuries

and deaths on the road, early

research has found.

For example, since 2018

vehicles with automatic

emergency braking (AEB) have

been involved in 53 percent

fewer rear-end collisions than

those without it, according

to the Department of

Transportation (DOT).

Currently, 93 percent of new

vehicles offer at least one ADAS

feature, such as AEB, forward

collision warning (FCW), or

blind spot warning (BSW),

according to CR’s own data.

But automakers aren’t using

the same words and phrases

to describe these important

systems, which can cause

confusion for consumers.

Research from AAA shows that

car shoppers may encounter as

many as 20 different names for

a single ADAS feature.

“Many of these names

don’t accurately describe

what a feature will do or what

drivers should expect,” says

Kelly Funkhouser, CR’s head

of connected and automated

vehicle technology testing.

For instance, Honda calls

blind spot warning Blind

Spot Information System,

while Toyota calls it Blind

Spot Monitor. On some GM

vehicles, it’s called Lane

Change Alert. And automakers

sometimes use different

terms for the same feature

on websites, at dealerships,

and in owner’s manuals. As a

result, consumers might not

understand which features are

available on which cars, and

risk buying a car without key

safety equipment.

That’s why CR collaborated

with AAA, J.D. Power, and

the National Safety Council to

develop standardized names

for 19 common ADAS features

so that consumers know what

they’re getting when shopping

for a vehicle. These names

are also designed to clearly

communicate the limits of

ADAS so that people know

they’re meant to assist—not

replace—a driver, and must be

monitored at all times.

In January the DOT

DRIVING CONTROL

ASSISTANCE

ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Assists with acceleration and/or

braking to maintain a prescribed

distance between a vehicle and

the car in front. Some systems

can make a vehicle come to a

stop, then continue.

LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE

Assists with steering to keep a

vehicle within its driving lane.

ACTIVE DRIVING ASSISTANCE

Assists with vehicle

acceleration, braking, and

steering. Some systems are

limited to specific driving

conditions. The driver is

responsible for the primary

task of driving.

endorsed the standardized

names along with efforts to

get the auto industry to adopt

them voluntarily. CR’s goal is

for automakers, auto-safety

organizations, and journalists

covering the auto industry to

use them so that consumers can

more easily compare vehicles

and option packages.

“It’s important that we all

start calling them the same

thing,” Funkhouser says.

“It will help automakers to

advertise features, dealerships

to communicate to consumers,

and drivers to truly understand

each feature.”

These are the suggested

names for the most common

features. They’ve been divided

into five categories based on

what they do.

T

In the Name

of Car Safety

CR is urging automakers to use

standardized names for key safety

systems so that consumers can be

certain about what they’re buying.

BY KEITH BARRY

26 CR.ORG APRIL 2020