The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently published the results of a study on how users of partially automated vehicles perceive their capabilities.
Regular drivers of Cadillac Super Cruise, Nissan/Infiniti ProPILOT Assist and Tesla Autopilot responded to the IIHS survey.
The results revealed these drivers were more likely to engage in non-driving activities while using semi-automated features, including texting or eating.
According to an IIHS press release, 42% of surveyed Tesla Autopilot users said they were comfortable treating their vehicles as fully self-driving.
Worse yet, 53% of Cadillac Super Cruise users said the same – compared to only 12% of Nissan/Infiniti ProPILOT Assist users.
IIHS says that most of today’s partial automation systems offer lane centering and adaptive cruise control, but none are capable of replacing human drivers.
Overall, the agency said the “big picture” result is that early adopters “still have a poor understanding of the technology’s limits.”
IIHS President David Harkey added that it’s possible “system design and marketing are adding to these misconceptions.”
