Modern Driver Assist Features that Didn’t Exist the Last Time You Bought a Car: Latest ADAS Tech Explained

Understanding modern car technology

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Have you recently looked at a newer used car, say, something made since about 2016? If so, you may have noticed a bewildering array of new features and abbreviations. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, driver attention warning, and an alphabet soup of acronyms like LDW, FCW, AEB, BLIS … the list goes on and on.

Collectively, these technologies are known as advanced driver-assist systems, or ADAS for short. Although many of the individual technologies have been around for nearly two decades, they once were exclusive to high-end luxury cars. Today, driver-assist tech has become more common and is widely available on cars made since the late 2010s. Manufacturers often bundle them under a brand name, such as Honda Sensing^®, Toyota Safety Sense Plus^™, or Ford Co-Pilot360^™.

Like with any new technology, you probably have questions. How long have they been around? Can I find them on the used market today? What do they do? How do they work? Should I be looking for them in my next vehicle? We're here to help explain what this technology does and help you decipher the confusing array of names carmakers have given to their systems.

What Are Advanced Driver Assist Systems?

Advanced driver-assist systems, or ADAS, are designed to help drivers be aware of their surroundings and, in some cases, intervene to try to prevent or lessen the impact of a collision. Through the use of radar, cameras, and other sensors located strategically around the vehicle, ADAS can help inform drivers of things they may not be aware of, such as vehicles in their blind spot, a car slowing suddenly in front of them, or their own car drifting out of its lane.

While many of these technologies may seem new to used-car shoppers, the underlying tech has been around for a while. Many of the systems, such as forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control, have been around since the 2000s. What's new is how manufacturers are bundling the various technologies under a single banner and how commonplace these technologies have become even on more budget-friendly vehicles.

Driver-assist systems are NOT the same as self-driving cars

The goal of ADAS is not to drive the car for you. That's what's known as "autonomous driving," where the car can drive itself without any input or attention from the driver. Right now there are no cars that offer fully autonomous, hands-off driving 100% of the time.

Instead, the driver of an ADAS-equipped car is still responsible for driving but is given additional awareness of his or her surroundings—and more direct support in certain situations—through the use of technology. That means the vehicle will try to warn you of certain risks or dangers so that you can take action and will only directly intervene as a last resort. Remember, driver-assist systems are not a guarantee against collisions. Think of ADAS like a good pair of glasses, helping to bring the world into sharper focus.

Advanced driver-assist systems can have confusing names

Pop quiz: What's the difference between Collision Mitigation Braking System^™, Intelligent Brake Assist, and City Safety^™? The answer: nothing. These are all brand names given to automatic emergency braking systems by Honda, Nissan, and Volvo, respectively.

To help you navigate this unfortunately complicated web of names, we'll be providing a list of what each manufacturer calls its technology. However, these names sometimes change over time, so it's a good idea to check a manufacturer's website so you know what you're getting and to familiarize yourself with the systems on whatever car you purchase.

Five Broad Categories of Advanced Driver-Assist Systems

In this article we'll cover five major areas of advanced driver-assistance systems, grouped by their general function. These are:

1. Collision warning and braking: Includes forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking.

2. Adaptive cruise control: Includes systems that can adjust speed while traveling at freeway speeds and those also capable of following low-speed traffic.

3. Lane assist systems: They include lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance systems, which vary in intensity depending on the manufacturer.

4. Blind-spot warning: Modern versions often include rear cross-traffic warning and, more recently, reverse automatic emergency braking.

5. Driver attention monitors: They include passive systems that monitor steering wheel inputs and active ones that use a camera to monitor the driver's face.

To be clear, there are a lot of other technologies that don't fit neatly into these categories. For example, some vehicles today include not just backup cameras but also surround-view cameras that give a complete view of the car's surroundings to the sides and front, making it easier to squeeze into those tight parking spaces. Head-up displays project driving information like speed, navigation directions, and more on the windshield, helping drivers keep their eyes on the road.

1. Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking

Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to offer forward collision warning in the U.S. market way back in the 2000 model year. A few years later, Acura debuted the first automatic emergency braking function for the 2006 model year. Since the late 2010s, these systems have become relatively commonplace, especially forward collision warning, and 20 automakers have voluntarily committed to offer it as standard equipment for the 2023 model year.

Forward collision warning (FCW) will warn the driver of an impending collision with another vehicle or, in the case of newer systems, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The warning usually consists of some combination of a visual warning projected in front of the driver along with an audible alert. If the warning goes unheeded, automatic emergency braking (AEB)—sometimes called autonomous emergency braking—will activate the brakes to slow the vehicle in an effort to either avoid a collision entirely or slow the car enough to lessen the impact.

How do forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking work?

Both forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking use the same sensors to monitor the road ahead, scanning for other vehicles or, in the case of newer systems, pedestrians and bicyclists. The sensors usually consist of a radar mounted on the front of the car and a camera system mounted high on the windshield. The system can use both the radar and camera in conjunction or, in some cases, just one or the other. If the system detects an object, it will alert the driver with a combination of audible and visual warnings, either a message on the dash or a visual warning projected on the windshield. The warnings are hard to miss and are intended to give the driver enough time to react.

However, in cases where the driver fails to respond, automatic emergency braking will kick in if the vehicle is equipped with it. This system applies the brakes in an attempt to bring the car to a full stop or slow the car enough to reduce the severity of an impact. Importantly, not all AEB systems work at all speeds, but nearly all of them work at low speeds, below 20 mph. That's still useful, though, such as when you're in slow-moving traffic or in parking lots.

Manufacturer names for forward collision warning

BMW, Mini:

• Frontal Collision Warning

• Forward Collision Warning

• Approach Control Warning

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC:

• Forward Collision Alert

• Following Distance Indicator

Ford, Lincoln:

• Pre-Collision Assist

• Forward Collision Warning

• Pre-Collision Assist Alert

Honda, Acura:

• Forward Collision Warning

Hyundai, Kia, Genesis:

• Forward Collision Warning

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist

Land Rover, Jaguar:

• Forward Alert

Mazda:

• Smart City Brake Support

• Forward Obstruction Warning

Mercedes-Benz:

• Congestion Emergency Braking

• Active Brake Assist

• PRE-SAFE^® Brake

Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi:

• Predictive Forward Collision Warning

• Intelligent Forward Collision Warning

• Forward Collision Mitigation

Rivian:

• Forward Collision Warning

Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Ram:

• Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning-Plus

• Forward Collision Warning

• Full Speed Forward Collision Warn Plus

Subaru:

• Pre-Collision Braking

Tesla:

• Collision Warning

• Forward Collision Warning

Toyota, Lexus:

• Pre-Collision Warning

• Pre-Collision System

Volvo, Polestar:

• City Safety^™ Collision Warning

• City Safety^™

Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche:

• Audi Pre Sense^® Front

• Pre Sense^® City

• Porsche Active Safety

• Forward Collision Warning (Front Assist)

• Porsche Active Safe (PAS)

• Front Assist

Manufacturer names for automatic emergency braking

BMW, Mini:

• City Collision Mitigation

• Emergency Braking

• City Light Braking Function

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC:

• Forward Automatic Braking

• Automatic Emergency Braking

• Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking

Ford, Lincoln:

• Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

• Pre-Collision Assist

• Active Braking

Honda, Acura:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System

Hyundai, Kia, Genesis:

• Automatic Emergency Braking

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist

Land Rover, Jaguar:

• Emergency Brake Assist/Emergency Braking

• Autonomous Emergency Braking

• Advanced Emergency Brake Assist

Mazda:

• Smart City Brake Support

• Advanced Smart City Brake Support

Mercedes-Benz:

• Active Brake Assist

Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi:

• Forward Emergency Braking

• Automatic Emergency Braking

• Intelligent Emergency Braking

Rivian:

• Automatic Emergency Braking

Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Ram:

• Active Braking

• Forward Collision Warning With Mitigation

• Fcw With Mitigation Operation

Subaru:

• Automatic Pre-Collision Braking System

• Pre-Collision Braking

Tesla:

• Emergency Braking

• Automatic Emergency Braking

Toyota, Lexus:

• Pre-Collision System

Volvo, Polestar:

• City Safety^™ auto brake

• City Safety^™

Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche:

• Pre Sense^® Front

• Emergency Braking

• Porsche Active Safety

• Autonomous Emergency Braking

• Porsche Active Safe (PAS) Brake Assist

• Front Assist

2. Adaptive Cruise Control

If you've ever taken a road trip, you're probably familiar with cruise control. You're also probably familiar with how often you have to hit the little "plus" and "minus" controls to increase and decrease your speed to stay with the flow of traffic.

Adaptive cruise control (ACC), also known as active cruise control, eliminates the need for constant manual speed adjustments by monitoring the vehicle in front of you and automatically adjusting your vehicle's speed to match. Introduced in the early 2000s, it has become more widely available, and since the beginning of the 2020s, it has been standard equipment on many brands.

How does adaptive cruise control work?

Adaptive cruise control uses the same sensors as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, which is why they're often bundled together. To use it, simply set your speed as you would with regular cruise control and give that right foot a rest. A radar mounted on the front of the car, cameras on the windshield, or a combination of both monitors the road ahead and locks onto the vehicle in front of you, if there is one. If that car slows down, ACC senses this and slows your vehicle as well, maintaining the same speed and relative distance. When the car ahead of you speeds up, your car speeds up, back to the speed you initially set.

When it was introduced in the early 2000s, ACC usually only operated at highway speeds, automatically shutting off below about 25 mph. Since gaining popularity in the mid-2010s, newer systems often include a feature called "low-speed follow," or something similar. This allows the system to bring the car to a complete halt and resume again once traffic starts flowing. If that sounds like it'd be handy during your traffic-heavy commute, you're right.

You can also adjust your following distance. Although no system will let you tailgate, you can be closer or farther away from the car in front of you depending on your own comfort level. Just note that the closer you are, the faster the system will have to react to changes in speed. This can result in more abrupt-feeling transitions between cruising and braking, which can feel jerky.

Manufacturer names for adaptive cruise control

BMW, Mini:

• Dynamic Cruise Control

• Active Cruise Control

• Distance Control

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC:

• Adaptive Cruise Control

Ford, Lincoln:

• Adaptive Cruise Control

• Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control

Honda, Acura:

• Adaptive Cruise Control

• Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow

Hyundai, Kia, Genesis:

• Smart Cruise Control

• Advanced Smart Cruise Control

Land Rover, Jaguar:

• Adaptive Cruise Control

Mazda:

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control

Mercedes-Benz:

• Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC^®

Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi:

• Intelligent Cruise Control

Rivian:

• Adaptive Cruise Control

Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Ram:

• Adaptive Cruise Control

Subaru:

• Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control

Tesla:

• Traffic-Aware Cruise Control

Toyota, Lexus:

• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control

Volvo, Polestar:

• Adaptive Cruise Control

Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche:

• Audi Adaptive Cruise Assist

• Adaptive Cruise Control

3. Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assistance

Even the most attentive drivers can sometimes lose focus, and when that happens your vehicle may drift over the lines on the road into an adjacent lane. That's where lane departure warning (LDW) comes into play. Newer vehicles add another level known as a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS) that will actually gently nudge the car back into its correct lane.

Introduced to the U.S. market in the mid-2000s, these systems have seen widespread adoption across all levels of the automotive industry, and in the last few years it's become more common to find them included as standard equipment, alongside FCW and AEB.

How do lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance systems work?

Both lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance use the camera system we've previously mentioned that's used on forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control systems. The images from these cameras are processed by sophisticated computers programmed with object and pattern recognition software, allowing the vehicle to "see" the lines on the road.

Lane departure warning monitors the road for the lane markers to either side of the vehicle. If the car begins to drift over a lane marker without the turn signal indicating an intentional lane change, the system will alert the driver, often with a tone or a vibration through the steering wheel. Some cars built by General Motors (Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick) use a vibration in the driver's seat, with the left side of the seat cushion vibrating if the vehicle is drifting left or the right side if it's drifting right.

Lane keeping assistance takes it to the next level. In this case, the vehicle doesn't just warn the driver; it actively adjusts the steering, gently nudging the car back into its own lane. LKAS is often strong enough that the driver can feel the steering wheel turn slightly on its own when on the highway, which can help reduce driver fatigue over long distances.

As computer and sensory technology have improved over the years, LDW and LKAS have gotten more sophisticated. However, there are still limitations. Both LDW and LKAS commonly only work at highway speeds, above 35 mph, although some newer systems can also work in traffic at low speeds. The systems need clearly marked lines on the road, and they can sometimes be confused by things like long tar strips, seams in concrete, or other linear patterns. Still, both are useful technologies and easy to find on recent cars.

Manufacturer names for lane departure warning

BMW, Mini:

• Lane Departure Warning

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC:

• Lane Keep Assist

Ford, Lincoln:

• Lane-Keeping Assist

• Lane-Keeping Alert

Honda, Acura:

• Road Departure Mitigation

Hyundai, Kia, Genesis:

• Lane Keeping Assist

Land Rover, Jaguar:

• Lane Keep Assist

Mazda:

• Lane-keep Assist System (LAS)

• Lane Departure Warning System

Mercedes-Benz:

• Active Lane Keeping Assist

Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi:

• Lane Departure Prevention

• Intelligent Lane Intervention

Rivian:

• Lane Departure Warning

Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Ram:

• LaneSense^® Lane Departure Warning

Subaru:

• Lane Keeping Assist

• Lane Departure Prevention Function

Tesla:

• Lane Keeping

• Lane Departure Avoidance

• Lane Assist

Toyota, Lexus:

• LDW with Steering Assist

• Road Edge Detection

• Lane Departure Alert with steering control

Volvo, Polestar:

• Lane Keeping Aid

Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche:

• Lane Assist

• Lane Departure Warning

Manufacturer names for lane keeping assistance

BMW, Mini:

• Lane Keeping Assistant

• Side Collision Avoidance

• Steering Intervention

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC:

• Lane Keep Assist

Ford, Lincoln:

• Lane-Keeping System

• Lane-Keeping Aid

Honda, Acura:

• Lane Keeping Assist System

Hyundai, Kia, Genesis:

• Lane Keeping Assist

• Lane Safety Assist

Land Rover, Jaguar:

• Lane Keep Assist

Mazda:

• Lane-Keep Assist

Mercedes-Benz:

• Active Lane Keeping Assist

Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi:

• Lane Departure Prevention

• Intelligent Lane Intervention

Rivian:

• Lane Keep Assistance

Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Ram:

• LaneSense^®

• Active Lane Management

• Lane Keeping Assist

Subaru:

• EyeSight^® Lane Keep Assist

Tesla:

• Lane Keeping

• Lane Departure Avoidance

• Lane Assist

Toyota, Lexus:

• Lane Departure Alert with steering control

• Lane Tracing Assist

Volvo, Polestar:

• Lane Keeping Aid

Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche:

• Audi Active Lane Assist

• Lane Keep Assist

• Lane Assist/Lane Keeping System

4. Blind-Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

At first glance, blind-spot monitoring systems (BSM, also known as blind-spot information systems, or BLIS, or blind-spot warning) and rear cross-traffic alert systems (RCTA, sometimes called rear cross-traffic warning) would seem to have very different functions. However, they use the same basic set of sensors, so they usually come as a package.

Blind-spot monitors were introduced in the late 2000s and quickly became popular with luxury and then mainstream manufacturers. It's still not usually found as standard equipment on base trims, but even entry-level models generally include it on some trim levels these days. Since the mid-2010s, BSM has become available on virtually any vehicle type or class.

Rear cross-traffic alert builds on BLIS by using the same sensors to warn the driver if there are vehicles approaching from the side when backing up. More modern systems often pair RCTA with a rear automatic emergency braking system as well.

How do blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert work?

Both blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert use radar mounted in the rear of the vehicle, usually with separate units on either side of the rear bumper. These radar units constantly monitor traffic behind the vehicle. If an adjacent car is in or approaching your blind spot, a warning light appears near the side-view mirror, often on the mirror itself. If the driver uses the turn signal to indicate a lane change when there is a vehicle in the blind spot, a warning will usually sound to alert the driver. Some newer systems even include intervention technology that will try to prevent the driver from changing lanes if there is a potential for a collision.

Building on this technology, RCTA uses the same radar sensors to scan behind the car when reversing. Coupled with a backup camera, the system will alert the driver of cross traffic with a tone and an arrow indicating the direction of travel of the traffic on the screen showing the backup image. Newer systems may include automatic emergency braking, stopping the car in case the driver fails to use the brakes.

Manufacturer names for blind-spot monitors

BMW, Mini:

• Blind Spot Detection

• Lane Change Warning

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC:

• Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert

• Side Blind Zone Alert

Ford, Lincoln:

• Blind Spot Information System

Honda, Acura:

• Blind Spot Information System

• Blind Spot Monitoring

Hyundai, Kia, Genesis:

• Blind Spot Detection System

• Blind-Spot Collision Warning

• Blind Spot Monitoring System

Land Rover, Jaguar:

• Blind Spot Monitor

• Blind Spot Assist

Mazda:

• Blind Spot Monitoring

• Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring

Mercedes-Benz:

• Active Blind Spot Assist

• Blind Spot Assist

Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi:

• Blind Spot Warning

Rivian:

• Blind Spot Warning

Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Ram:

• Blind Spot Monitoring System

• Blind Spot Alert

Subaru:

• Blind Spot Detection

• Lane Change Assist

Tesla:

• Blind Spot Monitoring

• Blind Spot Collision Warning Chime

Toyota, Lexus:

• Blind Spot Monitor

Volvo, Polestar:

• Blind Spot Information

Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche:

• Audi Side Assist

• Lane Change Assist

• Blind Spot Monitor

• Side Assist

Manufacturer names for rear cross-traffic alert

BMW, Mini:

• Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC:

• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

Ford, Lincoln:

• Cross Traffic Alert

Honda, Acura:

• Rear Cross Traffic Monitor

• Cross Traffic Monitor

Hyundai, Kia, Genesis:

• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Alert

• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning

Land Rover, Jaguar:

• Rear Traffic Monitor

Mazda:

• Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Mercedes-Benz:

• Rear Cross-Traffic Assist

Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi:

• Rear Cross Traffic Alert

• Backup Collision Intervention

Rivian:

• Rear Cross-Traffic Warning

Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Ram:

• Rear Cross Path Detection

• Cross Path Detection

Subaru:

• Rear-Cross Traffic Alert

Tesla:

• N/A

Toyota, Lexus:

• Rear-Cross Traffic Alert

• Rear Cross Traffic Braking System

Volvo, Polestar:

• Cross Traffic Alert

Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche:

• Rear Traffic Alert

• Rear Cross Traffic Alert

• Rear Cross Traffic Assist

• Cross Traffic Assist Rear

5. Driver Attention Monitors

According to a AAA study, drowsy driving is a factor in about 10% of collisions. Driver attention warning systems are designed to help drivers be more aware of when they might be driving while drowsy.

Driver attention monitors (DAM) and driver drowsiness monitors are designed to monitor drivers and warn them when they may be getting drowsy or inattentive. Compared to some of the other technologies here, driver attention monitors are relatively new. The first system appeared in the mid-2000s, but newer, less complicated systems began to appear on vehicles in the mid-2010s.

How do driver attention monitors work?

There are two basic types of driver attention monitors. Most often, the system monitors steering wheel movements using a feedback sensor in the steering mechanism. As you drive, you make tiny movements on the wheel as you correct the vehicle's steering, which the sensor monitors. If it senses certain changes to those movements that indicate drowsiness, the system issues a warning. These can include visual suggestions on the gauge cluster that the driver should consider pulling over and resting if the situation continues.

Newer, more sophisticated systems use a camera to directly monitor the driver's face. Using sophisticated facial recognition software, the system can determine if the driver's eyes are closing, if the driver's head is nodding, and if the driver is showing other symptoms of fatigue behind the wheel. It will then issue similar alerts, suggesting that the driver pull over and get some rest.

Manufacturer names for driver attention monitors

BMW, Mini:

• Attention Assist

• Driver Attention Camera

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC:

• Super Cruise

Ford, Lincoln:

• Driver Alert

Honda, Acura:

• Driver Attention Monitor

Hyundai, Kia, Genesis:

• Driver Attention Alert

• Driver Attention Warning

Land Rover, Jaguar:

• Driver Condition Monitor

• Driver Fatigue Alert

Mazda:

• Driver Attention Alert

Mercedes-Benz:

• Attention Assist^®

Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi:

• Driver Attention Alert

Rivian:

• Driver+

Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Ram:

• Attention Assist System

Subaru:

• EyeSight^® Driver Assist

Tesla:

• Driver Monitoring

Toyota, Lexus:

• Driver Monitoring System

Volvo, Polestar:

• Driver Alert Control

Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche:

• Fatigue Detection System

Do I Want Driver-Assist Features on My Next Car?

Broadly speaking, we think technology that can help you drive better and reduce the chance of collisions is a good thing. For example, studies have shown that vehicles equipped with automatic emergency braking systems are 50% less likely to be involved in a rear-end collision than those without, a significant difference. The most important thing is finding a car that matches your needs and your budget, and learning about ADAS can help you decide whether these systems are a priority for your next car.

Driver-assist features take some getting used to

If you're driving a car with ADAS for the first time, it can be a little overwhelming. You may find yourself being alerted frequently by various indicators, sensors, and systems that you may not immediately recognize, and you might find the gentle tug of a lane-keeping assistance system on the steering wheel a little disconcerting at first.

Learning what all the systems are and what they do will help you understand the alerts you receive, and you can usually adjust the settings of these systems to suit your driving style. Most systems let you set their sensitivity, cutting down on the number of warnings you get, or adjust the strength and type of intervention the vehicle can make. Of course, you can also shut off most ADAS features, but we suggest giving them a chance and taking a while to let yourself get used to the technology. Over time, you might wonder how you lived without it.