Who is in control? Road safety and automation in road traffic

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are systems that assist the driver in carrying out the primary driving task. ADAS observe the environment using sensors and are able to take over control of speed or driving direction, subject to the responsibility of the person at the wheel. Systems of this kind are also able to warn the driver in situations that the system considers dangerous.

On the basis of accident investigations and a literature review the Dutch Safety Board (in Dutch: Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid, OVV) has identified a number of types of new road safety risks that are not yet sufficiently recognised or managed. When they are placed on the market, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are often not yet fully mature. This means that following permission for use on public roads, they undergo further development. Together with the lack of knowledge among drivers, situations in which drivers fail to understand why the vehicle responds or indeed fails to respond in a particular way can quickly arise.

A report: “Who is in control? Road safety and automation in road traffic”, published by the Dutch Safety Board on 28 November 2019, contains recommendations for both the automotive industry, and policy makers and public authorities on a national and European level. Find the report here.