Drivers disabling lifesaving ADAS: Study shows 60% turn off crash-avoidance tech

August 8, 2025 – A major new study from Australia reveals that nearly 60% of drivers with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) actively disable key safety features, undermining technologies that could prevent almost one in five serious road casualties. While the research focuses on Australian roads, the findings echo growing concerns in the United States as regulators push for mandatory AEB and lane-keeping tech.

The study, commissioned by IAG and conducted with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and the iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre, analyzed 98,044 crashes in Queensland and Victoria, combined with a controlled driving study of 50 motorists and a national survey of 2,024 licensed drivers. Results show that only 57% of ADAS-equipped drivers use the features frequently, despite clear crash-reduction data.

Key findings:

• 60% of surveyed drivers admit to turning off at least some ADAS features intentionally.
• Lane keeping assist (LKA) could reduce sideswipe crashes by up to 40%, but drivers find it frustrating and annoying, leading to frequent deactivation.
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and other active intervention systems are less accepted than passive warnings like blind-spot monitoring.
• Modeling estimates full ADAS coverage and use could prevent approximately 7,850 serious casualties (fatalities and hospitalizations) annually in Australia – a 19.6% reduction.

The study highlights a disconnect between proven safety benefits and driver behavior. Participants in the controlled driving study reported that persistent warnings, false alerts, and a perceived loss of control were primary reasons for switching off systems. Lane keeping assist drew the most negative feedback, with drivers describing it as "frustrating" and "annoying."

U.S. parallels and regulatory context In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed rulemaking to mandate automatic emergency braking on all new light vehicles by 2029, with performance standards requiring the system to work at speeds up to 90 mph. Meanwhile, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that lane departure warning and LKA can reduce single-vehicle, sideswipe, and head-on crashes by 11% to 21%, yet driver acceptance remains low. A 2024 IIHS study reported that 42% of drivers with LKA turned it off at least occasionally, similar to the 60% figure from the Australian research.

The Australian study also found that 80% of drivers learned to use ADAS through trial and error, and nearly half took no proactive steps to educate themselves. A single instructor-guided test drive significantly improved trust and intention to use the systems, suggesting that formal driver education could be a key intervention.

The road ahead As ADAS requirements expand globally, the report argues that simply fitting more safety technology to new cars will not deliver its full potential unless drivers are prepared to keep systems active. The survey found that 72% of ADAS-equipped drivers said they would benefit from more information or instruction.

“Collaboration between vehicle manufacturers, governments, driver educators, and motorists will be critical to increasing the ongoing use of ADAS technologies and unlocking their full potential to reduce collisions and ultimately save lives on roads,” said Shawn Ticehurst, head of the IAG Research Centre.

One important caveat: The headline casualty figure assumes all vehicles are equipped with the relevant ADAS technologies and that the systems remain active. The underlying crash analysis measured whether ADAS was available in a vehicle, not whether it was actually switched on at the time of the crash.

With U.S. road fatalities still hovering around 40,000 annually, and ADAS adoption growing, the findings underscore the need for not only stronger regulation but also better driver education and system design that minimizes annoyance without sacrificing safety.