Page 16 - AAA Now! – AAA Northampton County – Spring 2020

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AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
WITH HIGH-TECH CARS, FAMILIARITY MAY BREED COMPLACENCY
Study: Drivers with More Experience Using Driver-Assistance Features Engage in More Distracted Behavior
Technologies like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist have the potential to make your driving safer, but they could also breed complacency, a new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study suggests.
Researchers investigating how technology affects behavior found that drivers who were more familiar with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) tended to pay less attention to the road when using the systems compared to driving without them. Study authors worry drivers who are more experienced with ADAS may become over-reliant on the technology.
“There was a tendency in that more experienced group to become a little complacent – to put
too much trust in the technology,” said Club Representative or Foundation Rep. “Overreliance on these systems can put drivers and others in dangerous conditions during critical moments.”
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety partnered with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute to study distracted driving among two groups of drivers – one that owned vehicles equipped
with ADAS technology and one that was given ADAS-equipped vehicles to drive.
Researchers recorded and analyzed driver behavior using video cameras mounted in the cars. They found the drivers who owned ADAS-equipped vehicles were almost twice
as likely to take their eyes off the road and be generally less engaged when using ADAS technologies compared to driving without them.
Novelty appears to be a critical variable.
Researchers theorize that drivers new to ADAS aren’t ready to “trust” the technology, so they remain focused and engaged. Drivers experienced with ADAS have seen it work over time – they’ve come to rely on it – so they’re more likely to let their attention wander. Previous research on airplane pilots and nuclear technicians found a similar link.
Think back to the first few times you used standard cruise control. Initially, it’s likely you were hyper alert – cautiously feeling out the technology, carefully processing feedback.
But over time, it became just another feature of the car, one you barely
thought about.
If you’re thinking
about buying an ADAS equipped car – or if you already own one – you should learn as much as possible about the technology and its limitations. AAA
recommends three simple steps for how to ACE your next vehicle rental or purchase:
• Always remain active and engaged when
using ADAS technologies like lane-keep assist
or adaptive cruise control.
• Commit to knowing what ADAS technologies
are installed on your vehicle and how they work. • Expect that the advanced driver assistance
technologies in your vehicle have limitations.
ADAS has tremendous promise to improve the driving experience. But it’s not infallible. There still is no substitute for an alert, engaged driver.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
We recently returned from an amazing
Disney family vacation. When we decided
to take this vacation, we contacted AAA for
assistance with the planning process and
they referred us to Diane Parkansky. Diane
spent numerous occasions meeting with
us over the course of a year and a half.
She listened to our concerns and made
suggestions based on the needs of our
family and our interests. Diane was quick
to respond to our needs, she was patient,
knowledgeable and a pleasure to work
with. Due to her help and expertise, Diane
took the stress out of our Disney vacation planning. We have never had a vacation that was so easy and painless to plan. Through her suggestions and guidance our Disney family vacation was truly magical.
– Jean Sylvester
5% Insurance Premium Reduction with AAA’s Safe Driving for the Roadwise Driver Course
AAA Northampton County offers a 4-hour refresher course.
In order to qualify for this course, you must be 55 or older and have taken the 8-hour Roadwise Driver Course with AAA Northampton County within the past three years. AAA Northampton County also will be offering the 8-hour Roadwise Driver Course for those who have not taken the Mature Driver Course in the past three years.
The course is free for AAA Northampton County members, $10 for members of another AAA club and $30 for nonmembers. For more information, visit us at 3914 Hecktown Road, Easton, or call (610) 258-2371. Classes are held at
AAA Northampton County. Enrollment is limited.
4-HOUR REFRESHER COURSE
8-HOUR COURSE (over 2 days)
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
March 17 & 18 (Tuesday and Wednesday) March 21 & 28 (Saturdays)
April 14 & 15 (Tuesday and Wednesday) May 19 & 20 (Tuesday and Wednesday)
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
March 3 (Tues.) March 14 (Sat.) April 1 (Wed.)
CALL (610) 258-2371 OR SEND REGISTRATION TO:
AAA Northampton County Traffic Safety Dept.
3914 Hecktown Rd. Easton, PA 18045
Your cancelled check or receipt is your confirmation. You will only be notified if course is full, cancelled or rescheduled.
April 25 (Sat.) May 5 (Tues.)
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Text APP188 to 88202 to download the AAA app or use your preferred App store
Please include me/us as participant(s) in the Mature Operators Course
Scheduled date: ________________________________________ Name: _______________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ Phone #: _____________________________________________ Membership #: _________________________________________ Email: _______________________________________________
SPRING 2020
Now!