A new national study will investigate why many Australian drivers are not using advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in their vehicles, despite the technology being proven to reduce accidents and improve safety.
The research will be conducted by Insurance Australia Group (IAG) in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and the iMOVE Co-operative Research Centre. It will observe how drivers interact with features such as lane-keeping assistance and autonomous emergency braking, aiming to identify the barriers that prevent people from using ADAS effectively.
Drivers turning off safety systems
Recent findings show that 60 per cent of Australian drivers actively turn off ADAS features in their vehicles. Only one in three drivers have the systems enabled by default, while around 38 per cent find them distracting.
Shawn Ticehurst, head of the IAG Research Centre, said, “We are seeking to understand why 60 per cent of Australian drivers surveyed admit to actively turning off the ADAS safety features in their cars, and what might encourage a behavioural shift in this behaviour to help in reducing preventable accident rates.”
The research also found that 69 per cent of new learner drivers were not tested or educated about ADAS during driving lessons or licensing tests, and 80 per cent of drivers have been learning how to use the systems through trial and error.
Aiming to improve adoption and safety
The study will include field research at the RACQ Mobility Centre in Brisbane, where researchers will monitor driver behaviour and assess the impact of ADAS features on safety.
Researchers will examine how ADAS performance changes over a vehicle’s life and how different types of crashes can be prevented. They will also assess whether radar sensors can be safely reused after collisions.
“All new vehicles in Australia now come with ADAS features, but we are yet to see their full life-saving potential realised,” QUT Professor Sebastien Glaser said.
“This research project seeks to understand why.”
The study aims to provide evidence-based insights into how drivers learn, trust, and interact with these safety technologies, and how education and guidance could improve adoption rates. Full findings are expected to be released in 2026.
Survey highlights gaps in knowledge
Additional survey results show that nearly half of drivers have not taken any proactive steps to learn how to use ADAS. Furthermore, 21 per cent only learned about the features after buying their car. More than one third also believe that ADAS can sometimes make driving more difficult.
By identifying why Australians switch off these safety systems, the study aims to develop strategies to help drivers use ADAS safely and effectively. The goal is to ultimately reduce accidents on Australian roads.
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