In an earlier blog we looked briefly into Advanced Driver Assistance Sytems, or ADAS for short. Now we delve deeper into the various ADAS technologies and how they can help keep us safe, starting with those designed primarily to help with motorway driving.

Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is perfect for those who do a lot of motorway driving. Similar to conventional cruise control, ACC can maintain the steady speed that you set. However, it goes one step further by adjusting the speed of your car to match the speed of the car in front. So, if the car in front slows down, so does your car. If it speeds up, so do you. It works through a system of cameras and radars that combine to influence the acceleration and braking of your vehicle.

Lane-Keeping Assist

Lane-keeping assist does what it says on the tin. It uses sensors to detect the lane and engages light steering if you begin to drift. It's best used to prevent accidents on the motorway and during long-distance journeys where your concentration is waning. Your car might also come with lane-departure warning, which warns you if you're crossing the white lines on either side of the lane.

Blind-Spot Assist

Changing lanes becomes safer with blind-spot assist, which monitors your car's blind spot and alerts you if another vehicle is nearby. Picture merging onto a motorway and you don't have to panic about a car being in your blind spot.

Road-Sign Recognition

Road sign recognition uses a camera on the front of the car to spot and interpret road signs. This will then project an image of the sign on the digital driver's display to ensure you're aware of the sign. It can help us avoid speeding, reduce the chances of missing a speed limit change, and warn the driver of potential hazards.

Driver-Attention Detection

Driver-attention detection helps prevent drivers falling asleep at the wheel. By using cameras and sensors, the car can determine whether the driver is paying enough attention to the road. If it thinks they aren't, it will alert the driver through an audio, visual, or touch aid. By doing this, it will first make the driver more alert to the road ahead and make them aware that they are tired and they need to pull over for some rest.

We’ll look at other ADAS technologies, aimed primarily at day-to-day driving, in a future blog. If you would like to have your ADAS checked just give us a call on 01202 694758 or email us at info@star-tech.co.uk