The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is sounding the alarm: without clear guidance, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) may end up causing more harm than good. According to recent reports, many fleet operators have observed drivers misusing functions like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist—sometimes becoming overly dependent on them or even blaming the car when something goes wrong.
Lorna McAtear, vice chair of AFP and head of fleet at National Grid, cautions that ADAS is intended to be a supplemental safety net not a substitute for active driving. In practice, systems behave differently from one model to another, which only adds to driver confusion. Aaron Powell, board member of AFP and director at Speedy Hire, points to a rise in minor collisions—especially in low-speed scenarios like parking possibly linked to this overreliance.
To counterbalance these risks, fleets are now exploring “back to basics” training programs that reinforce safe driving habits and promote proper understanding of ADAS features. As safety systems become standard in new vehicles, AFP says it’s essential for automakers, fleet managers and regulators to work together in educating drivers—so that technology supports rather than supplants good driving judgment.
Source: The AFP, fleetnews.co.uk
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