ANCAP Studying Revisions For Lane-Keep Assist Tests

Do you find the lane-keep assist feature to be rather annoying and intrusive? The ANCAP believes so too, and has initiated as study into which.

Leading independent crash-testing assessment body the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) revealed recently that it has begun a new research project to study possible revisions for its lane-keep assist system tests.

Specifically, research is underway to test the intrusiveness of lane-keep assist tech in new cars, which will go beyond the bounds of normal testing used to achieve its prized and coveted five-star scores. This is set to expose "rudimentary" systems which work against, not help the driver, adds the organisation.

This move reportedly stems as the organisation’s response to criticism of the safety organisation’s continued requirement of lane-keeping technology in its criteria for a five-star rating without ensuring the systems implemented by car brands are genuinely effective.

Lane-keep assist, also known as Lane-keeping assist or Lane-centering control, are now found in many new models on sale today, and is a critical element towards scoring a five-star score with ANCAP.

Presently, testing conducted comes in addition to ANCAP's standard testing of lane-keep assist systems and their ability to prevent collisions. For now, this will not impact a vehicle's safety rating and scores out of five stars.

ANCAP notes that the results of their latest research will be shared with manufacturers who will also be informed about refinements it intends to apply into the next set of test protocols due in 2025. The organisation also revealed that it has tested four vehicles in the first round of tests under this study.

Said initial four, though unnamed by the organisation, are touted as “positive reference.” A further three models were assembled for the same tests using direct consumer feedback that, according to ANCAP, are said to offer “fairly rudimentary lane assist system.”

Example of the universal sign for lane-keep assist as seen in the face-lifted Mazda CX-5 (bottom left button). 

ANCAP further adds that its new tests used in this study measures the following:

ANCAP also released initial findings from this early test, and it noted the pilot group of vehicles tested all intervened aggressively. ANCAP notes that these had “clear room for improvement” as well.

Results of initial tests conducted in this lane-keep assist system study by ANCAP.

Lane-keep assist buton (bottom row, centre) seen in the BMW i4.

"What we want to demonstrate are the differences in vehicle behaviour, and by sharing these results, encourage manufacturers to improve their systems. This will in turn improve the acceptance of these systems by their customers," said ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg.

The exec added that the organisation doesn’t want to see these systems being called annoying and switched off by consumers. Hoorleg also committed that more vehicles will be examined and results will be relayed back to carmakers to further enhance these systems.

Source: Drive.com.au