August 30, 2023
Many drivers have envisioned a far-off science fiction world with self-driving cars that can take the burden of auto travel off drivers’ shoulders. While we are far away from living life like the Jetsons, we are not that far away from having vehicles with self-driving capabilities.
Tesla, General Motors (GM), and Ford are all years into developing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). These systems allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel and allow the car to drive itself on highways. How each system does it differs depending on the company developing the technology.
Currently, no car on the market has an ADAS. However, Tesla, GM, and Ford have all come a long way in developing their self-driving systems for their vehicles. We could see cars with self-driving capabilities as early as the next couple of years. Until then, drivers must stay alert and practice safe driving to avoid car accidents.
What are Advanced Driver Assistance Systems?
Car accidents occur throughout the United States because of driver negligence and malfunctioning car parts. According to the United States Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there were 42,939 car accident fatalities in 2021. Car accidents can result from negligent driving behavior like distracted driving, speeding, and drowsy driving.
Recent developments in car driving technology have sought to mitigate the effect of driver error. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can control vehicles’ steering, acceleration, deceleration, and braking. This system would allow the driver to take their hands off the wheel and pedals and allow the car to drive itself for certain spurts of time.
ADAS can accomplish this by using advanced cameras and highway mapping to let the car know what is in front of them, the speed limit, and when they may need to stop or turn. However, there is not yet a car on the market with self-driving capabilities, and drivers must practice safe driving to avoid causing a motor vehicle accident.
Developments from Rival Auto Companies Lead to Different ADAS
Something that has slowed the development of ADAS and prevented them from reaching the market is rival companies developing them separately. There are no industry-standard guidelines provided by federal regulators, so individual auto companies have produced them independently.
This led each of them to use different tactics in developing their system, with different ways that the car can safely drive on its own. The auto companies developing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are Tesla, General Motors (GM), and Ford.
The Best-Performing ADAS is General Motors’ SuperCruise
General Motors has been developing its Advanced Driver Assistance System called SuperCruise for years, with some industry insiders testing the technology a decade ago. It is considered the best and most consistent system out there, with performance, safety, and communication with the driver above their competitors.
SuperCruise allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel and let the system take over when driving on 400,000 miles of pre-mapped highways. The system is able to respond to curves and construction zones, as well as slower drivers using automatic lane changes. However, there can be some issues with outdated mapping. It can return control back to the driver when there is newer or more substantial construction on the highway.
GM plans to have SuperCruise available on 22 cars, trucks, and SUVs by the end of 2023. They have produced over 40,000 vehicles with SuperCruise, which have accumulated 45 million hands-free miles. The cost of SuperCruise will vary depending on the model of the vehicle, but each comes with a subscription cost of $25 per month or $250 per year after a free trial period.
The Newest ADAS is Ford’s BlueCruise
The newest ADAS is from Ford, and it is called BlueCruise. It’s similar to GM’s SuperCruise, as they both use pre-mapping and infrared cameras to ensure the driver remains focused on the road. However, BlueCruise still requires more development before it has the polish of SuperCruise.
BlueCruise can work on pre-mapped highways but can randomly disengage when it reaches an obstacle or construction zone it isn’t ready for. It can switch control back to the driver when it approaches an obstacle easily maneuvered by a human driver. BlueCruise may only work for a short amount of time before it switches back control to the driver, which will not help much with driver fatigue.
The chief engineer of Ford ADAS vehicle systems, Chris Billman, has stressed that they are being cautious with BlueCruise to ensure it’s ready before going to the market. An impending system update should allow the system to handle slowdowns at larger highway curves.
The Most Ambitious ADAS Comes From Tesla
Tesla’s ADAS is called Autopilot, which should tell you a lot about the ambition of the system. The ADAS, which can be upgraded to Full Self-Driving (FSD) for $15,000, attempts to allow for complete self-driving on highways and streets.
Autopilot works well on highways, using automatic lane changes and navigation-based exiting to maneuver highways. However, issues can arise on city streets. Despite its ability to respond to traffic control signals, it cannot read the nuances of human drivers.
The ADAS can make drastic lane changes and turns, fail to stop to allow other drivers into a lane, and respond poorly to streets without markings. The issues with Tesla’s product have led to a lawsuit in California for overstating the ADAS’s ability to self-drive safely.
Contact Cellino Law for Help With Your Car Accident Claim
Human drivers are still far from relying solely on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Drivers can still make mistakes that can cause car accidents and severe car accident injuries. Victims of car accidents can file claims to pursue compensation for car accident damages.
Cellino Law’s car accident lawyers have decades of experience helping New York drivers recover fair compensatory damages. They can help you calculate the value of your claim, determine the liable party, collect evidence, and negotiate a settlement. Contact Cellino Law today for a free car accident case evaluation by calling us at (888) 888-8888 or leaving a message on our online contact page.
Content checked by the personal injury attorney Ross Cellino. As a family man and a trial attorney, I pride myself on winning cases and serving the community. With over 35 years of experience, I understand the function of a jury, how juries arrive at conclusions, and the role that the jury plays in administering justice. I know how to win cases. You can find us in Manhattan, Buffalo, Melville, Rochester, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and other locations throughout New York.