Four in 10 drivers turn off 'annoying' safety systems
Tue, 09 Jan 2024
Four in 10 drivers switch off safety features in their cars as they find them annoying and don't think they actually make them safer.
That's according to new research by safety charity Brake and insurer AXA UK. Revealingly, 80% of drivers say the safety rating is important when buying a vehicle yet only 36% know for certain what safety features are fitted to their car.
The findings highlight the disparity between the safety features car manufacturers are fitting to modern vehicles and those that drivers are actually using in real life.
Several safety features have been mandatory for all new vehicles in Europe since July 2022, including intelligent speed assistance, automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance.
Drivers were asked about safety features in their own car, whether they ever switch them off and, if so, why. Almost half of drivers said they prioritise safety features when buying a new car, yet 41% said they had switched off at least one safety feature, mostly because they find it annoying.
It also found that 47% of male drivers have switched off safety features in their car compared with 35% of women.
As part of its Vehicle safety systems and the future of driving report, Brake and AXA UK are calling for a new public awareness and education campaign to help people understand the safety benefits of technology that is already available.
They are also asking dealers and manufacturers to take responsibility for educating people when they purchase vehicles.
In 2022, 1766 people were killed on UK roads – a 10% increase on the previous year – and almost 29,000 were seriously injured – up by 8% since 2021. Human error is estimated to be at least one of the causes in most crashes.
"It is clear that advanced vehicle technology can play a significant role in improving road safety and prevent a great number of families and communities from needless suffering. We urge the Government to look at the evidence, listen to the overwhelming call for safety, and follow Europe’s lead by making these safety features mandatory for all new vehicles in Britain," says Ross Moorlock, Brake's interim CEO.
"We also call on Government to publish its long-awaited Road Safety Strategic Framework and ensure that safety is at the heart of every decision made about the future of travel on our roads."
"Road safety is incredibly important to us and we believe technology has the potential to significantly reduce collisions and make our roads safer. It is therefore worrying to see so many people switching off features on their cars that are designed to keep them safe," says AXA UK’s Commercial CEO Jon Walker.
"In other European countries, these features are mandatory so we urge the Government to put safety at the heart of its roads policy and ensure the public fully understands the benefits this technology can offer," he adds.
Does cruise control work at 20mph?
