What Do Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Do?

What Do Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Do?

The state of safety technology has come a long way in recent years, but research also shows that many drivers don’t really understand what all the latest high-tech safety features do. That’s understandable since automakers often use different names for the same systems, and they typically put the responsibility for learning about them on you. 

Well, that’s not how we roll at Help Me Sell My Car. Our team is dedicated to helping people buy and sell cars with the confidence that can only come from knowing more about the used vehicles themselves.

For example, here’s some key info about today’s most common Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.

Adaptive Cruise Control: This feature helps keep your car at a constant speed unless sensors detect slower traffic ahead of you. The system can then automatically slow you down and, once traffic starts moving again, get you back up to speed. Advanced systems can even bring your vehicle to a full stop in a traffic jam before resuming your preferred speed.

Automatic Emergency Braking: Also known as collision mitigation, this technology relies on sensors to determine if you’re closing so quickly on another car that a crash seems imminent. If so, it can automatically apply the brakes to help you stop. Forward auto braking is more common in older vehicles, while newer ones have begun offering both forward and reverse braking assistance.

Automatic Parking Assistance: These systems can analyze the size of parking spots as you slowly drive by to see if you’re vehicle will fit. Depending on the system, it can then help coach you into the parking place with audiovisual alerts combined with automatic steering and/or automatic operation of the brake and gas pedal.

Blind-Spot Monitoring: Relying on rear-facing sensors, this technology can automatically detect when another vehicle has entered your blind spot and respond with visual/audible alerts. With active blind-spot monitoring, sometimes called blind-spot intervention, the system can automatically provide steering assistance if you’re trying to make a lane change at the time.

Driver Attention Monitor: Automakers have a number of different ways to help make sure you’re paying attention behind the wheel, from interior sensors that can detect the driver’s head/eye movements to technology that analyzes how many steering-wheel corrections you’re making.

Forward Collision Warning: Another system that can detect if you’re approaching another vehicle too quickly, this setup can provide visual/audio alerts so you can intervene – but won’t enable automatic braking without additional technology.

Lane Departure Warning: This technology is backed by forward-facing sensors that can detect the lane lines on certain roads. It can then alert you if you’re drifting out of your proper lane.

Lane-Keeping Assistance: The same type of sensors power lane-keeping assistance, which adds automatic steering assistance to help you keep between the lines.

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: Basically rear collision warning, with technology that can alert you to a possible collision but not actively apply the brakes.

Just remember that none of these technologies are meant to replace or substitute for careful, responsible driving.

What about Hands-Free Driving?

Some companies also offer hands-free driving systems that combine the previous technologies and detailed mapping to allow you to drive with your hands off of the wheel. The important thing to note is that, as of Spring 2024, all of these – Tesla Full Self Driving, GM Super Cruise, Ford BlueCruise, etc. – are rated as Level 2 systems. Which means the driver has to be alert and ready to immediately take control of the vehicle at all times.

Now that you know more about advanced driver-assistance systems, you can start shopping here, start selling here, and enjoy the whole HMSMC site from wherever you have an Internet connection.