The organization suggests both technologies have great potential to keep drivers safe, however tests found several scenarios un which the systems failed to perform up to broad expectations.
Blind-spot monitoring systems, which mostly rely on short-range radar, encountered trouble when detecting fast-moving vehicles that are quickly approaching in an adjacent lane. Over-reliance on the technology can lead to accidents if drivers are not paying close attention to mirrors, particularly when merging onto a highway.
The blind-spot monitors were also less sensitive to motorcycles, sounding an alert an average of 26 percent later than passenger vehicles.
“Alerts were often provided too late for evasive action,” the AAA noted.
The limitations of lane-departure warnings are more obvious, with reduced effectiveness when the road lines are worn or in construction zones and intersections.
The AAA claims its engineers found significant performance differences between various test vehicles, though the organization has not detailed which models are better or worse. An Acura RLX, Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes-Benz CLS were used in the tests.
“Some blind-spot monitoring systems we tested had a short detection range, which meant that a vehicle was already in the blind spot before the alert came on,” said Megan McKernan, engineering manager of the Automobile Club of Southern California. “The lane-departure warning system on several vehicles experienced false-positive and miss-detections, which resulted in an inconsistent driver warning.”
The AAA recommends that drivers review the systems and be aware of the inherent limitations when on the road.
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