Partial automation systems like Tesla’s Autopilot or GM’s Super Cruise can handle the basics: maintaining your speed, braking when necessary, and keeping your car centered in the lane. But they tap out the moment you grab the wheel, forcing you to reactivate them manually or meet specific conditions to regain assistance. Meanwhile, systems like Ford’s BlueCruise and Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist play nice, staying on even as drivers make slight steering corrections.
The difference? Big enough to change habits. Drivers with cooperative systems are 40% to 48% less likely to take their hands off the wheel in unnerving situations, like overtaking a weaving trailer or navigating close quarters with other vehicles.
IIHS senior researcher Alexandra Mueller, who led the study, surveyed 1,260 owners of vehicles equipped with partial automation from Ford, GM, Nissan, and Tesla. Respondents watched videos of lane-steering scenarios, then answered how their systems would react and how they’d respond. Interestingly, even when systems didn’t offer cooperative steering, many drivers assumed they did.
“Systems that cut off when the driver intervenes may discourage engagement because of the hassle of reactivating them,” Mueller explained. “In contrast, cooperative systems nudge drivers toward safer habits without making them fight the tech.”
Participants were shown three driving scenarios: one uneventful, one mildly uncomfortable (passing a stable but close trailer), and one outright nerve-wracking (passing a weaving trailer). Across the board, drivers with cooperative systems were more likely to steer and re-engage with the car.
The message is clear: smoother collaboration between drivers and their systems could be key to safer roads. As automakers refine automation tech, encouraging drivers to stay involved—without adding frustration—might just steer us toward a smarter, safer future.