US drivers ignore hi-tech safety features in cars, citing complexity and cost, or else rely on them too much, with both habits potentially making roads more dangerous.
While new cars are "increasingly equipped with advanced vehicle technologies that could help reduce crashes and fatalities," the gadgets' effect is limited as some drivers switch them off and others don’t understand how to use them, according to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), which surveyed consumers and car industry representatives, including car manufacturers and dealers.
The GAO found drivers to have "misperceptions about the limitations of different crash avoidance technologies in their vehicles," including by misusing semi-automated driving systems, which need the driver’s "full attention."
Some drivers have become dependent on the additions, an outcome the GAO warned "could actually cause accidents," while some are lulled into dangerous habits such as texting or watching videos while behind the wheel, as they get the impression the cars are almost self-driving.
The addition of such tech - including sensors to trigger automatic emergency braking if a crash is deemed imminent, or warnings based on detecting if a vehicle has crossing lane markings - has added to the price of cars and of maintenance and repair.
In turn, the computerisation of cars means some can be only repaired at dealerships, stopping owners from shopping around mechanics for the best price.
Almost 43,000 people were killed in car accidents in the US in 2022, despite the inclusion of high-tech safety systems in many new models.
