Study: Driver Assistance Systems Increase Distraction, ‘False Sense of Security’

A report from Electrek and a recent crash are raising new questions about Tesla’s ‘full self-driving’ or FSD mode, which the report claims lulls drivers into “a false sense of security, making it harder to react when emergencies arise.”

In an article in Tech Times, Jose Enrico explains that FSD’s smooth operation can actually increase risk, reducing the human driver’s attention and engagement at key moments. “According to Boingboing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that prolonged use of driver-assist systems significantly increases driver distraction, with users more likely to check phones or divert attention.”

Enrico adds that the Chinese government has stricter market regulations on cars with autonomous features, barring automakers from labeling software as “self-driving” or “autonomous” when it isn’t. “[Chinese] automakers like BYD have adopted more transparent policies, even offering coverage for damages caused by certain autonomous features.”