How are car buyers and car sellers currently informed about ADAS? An investigation among drivers and car sellers in the Netherlands

This study provides a comprehensive overview of the way consumers and car sellers are currently informed about Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). In order to gain any economical, comfort and safety benefits from automated car systems, drivers need to know how to safely and efficiently use them. Still, it remains largely unknown if, and how, consumers are informed about ADAS when buying a car. Naturally, sales staff has to be accurately informed and instructed as well to inform customers. Two separate nationwide surveys were administered among consumers and car sellers across The Netherlands to gain insight on how they are currently informed about ADAS. The results of our study show several issues about the way that both consumers and car sellers are informed about ADAS. First, almost a quarter of the drivers did not receive any information about the ADAS in the car that they bought. Of the drivers that did receive information, only 9% was able to try out the automated systems before taking the car home. Almost 40% of the car sellers did not receive (sufficient) information about ADAS. However, brand dealers more often received sufficient information about ADAS compared to independent dealers. These issues need to be addressed now to avoid unsafe use of ADAS, but also unsafe use of more complex automated systems that are being incorporated into commercial cars. We propose several opportunities for improvement and standardization which may be implemented by the automotive industry, stakeholder organizations or the government.