More than half of drivers in the UK believe that it is already possible to purchase a car that can drive itself, according to a study commissioned by Euro NCAP, Global NCAP and Thatcham Research.

The survey findings are in stark contrast to the current capabilities of such systems and highlight the significant confusion that exists among drivers when it comes to the reality of automated or autonomous driving.

Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham Research, said: “Some carmakers are designing and marketing vehicles in such a way that drivers believe they can relinquish control. Carmakers want to gain competitive edge by referring to ‘self-driving’ or ‘semi-autonomous’ capability in their marketing, but it is fuelling consumer confusion. This is exacerbated by some systems doing too much for the driver, who ends up disengaged.

“Our message is that today’s technology supports the driver. It is not Automated Driving and it is not to be relied upon at the expense of driver attentiveness. The driver is in control and must always remain alert. If used correctly Highway Assist systems will improve road safety and reduce fatalities, but they won’t if naming and marketing convinces drivers that the car can take care of itself.”

Globally, more than 70% of people think self-driving cars already exist. Many respondents said that they would be tempted to break the law while using an Assisted Driving system by texting on a mobile phone (34%), making a hand-held call (33%) or having a brief nap (11%)

To provide clarity on the true capability of these systems, Euro NCAP has tested the comparative performance of advanced driver assistance systems in ten cars that feature so called ‘highway assist’, which combines adaptive cruise control, lane centering and speed assist systems to support the driver in driving situations on motorways.

These cars are the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, DS 7 Crossback, Ford Focus, Hyundai Nexo, Mercedes-Benz C Class, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, Toyota Corolla and Volvo V60.

Adaptive cruise control was tested in an extended version of Euro NCAP's AEB test, with approach speeds that match those typically seen on European motorways.

In the cut-in test, a car from the adjacent lane merges into the lane just in front of the test car. For the cut-out scenario, a car in front leaves the lane abruptly to avoid a stopped vehicle ahead, leaving the system only a short time to identify and respond to the situation.

A second set of tests was developed to evaluate the Lane Centering function. The amount of steering support provided by each system is determined in a so-called S-bend test at various speeds. Another test measures the amount of steering effort needed by the driver to swerve around a small obstacle on the road such as a pot hole.

Besides testing the system’s main functions, Euro NCAP also verifies the information provided by the manufacturer in media, commercials or in the user’s manual to check that no false or exaggerated claims are being made, and that the information on the system and its limitations is sufficiently clear and complete.

The Results

Adaptive Cruise Control:

• Both the DS and BMW offered a low level of assistance, with the driver being primarily in control.
• The Audi, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes, Toyota, Nissan, Volvo offered a balance between driver and system assistance.
• The Tesla risks an over reliance on the assistance system with the vehicle being primarily in control.

Steering:

• In the S-bend test, a range of different driver assistance levels was encountered but the Tesla system created the potential for over reliance.
• In the small obstacle ‘pot hole’ scenario, all the cars tested allowed the driver to cooperatively steer and manage the situation apart from the Tesla. The Tesla system does not allow the driver to deviate from the lane centering path and will disengage when a driver inputs steering torque. Again, this risks over reliance on the system by the driver.

Cut in and Cut Out:

• Cut-in and cut-out scenarios are the most challenging of Euro NCAP’s tests and all of the cars were found to be seriously lacking. None of the systems were able to help and crashes could only be avoided if an alert driver braked or steered away from trouble.
• These challenging scenarios highlight how important it is that the driver remains attentive and does not over rely on the system.

User manual and marketing information:

• User manuals generally state clearly what the system limitations are and where they should be used. None of the systems restrict use by geofencing.
• Generally, official marketing content is clear in what the role of the driver is, but in the case of BMW a promotional video for the 5 Series is misleading as the driver takes their hands off the wheel where it is assumed that the vehicle can drive autonomously.
• Tesla uses a number of promotional videos which also suggest vehicle autonomy. This creates a mismatch between more accurate information included in the user manual and more misleading information in marketing materials.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP secretary general, said: “Euro NCAP’s message from these tests is clear - cars, even those with advanced driver assistance systems, need a vigilant, attentive driver behind the wheel at all times. It is imperative that state-of-the-art passive and active safety systems remain available in the background as a vital safety backup.”

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, added: “Safety is the number one priority for car makers, which spend billions developing technology that mitigates driver error, reduces accidents and saves lives. Many new cars are now available with advanced assistance systems where the driver must remain in control at all times, including lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring and emergency braking. Such systems are already making our roads safer and are expected to save 2,500 lives by 2030.

“We understand this survey found that 118 people in the UK believe they can buy ‘a car that drives itself’ today, but as most would accept, fully self-driving cars are still a long way off. Industry is working now with regulators in the UK and at UNECE level to determine what makes a vehicle fully autonomous. This will ensure there is a common understanding and that all autonomous cars meet exacting international standards.”