Drivers 'should not become over reliant on safety technology'

Date: 9/9/2010

Motorists must not become too reliant on car technologies to keep them safe on the roads, one expert has warned.

Tracey Scarr, Fleet and Road Safety Manager at Arval, said safety devices are not without benefits, but there is a danger drivers will become lazy and neglect their own abilities, Fleet World reported.

While the advantages of seatbelts, airbags and driver-assistance systems are proven, technology "is just one side of the coin", she remarked.

"It is imperative that good driving skills and habits continue to be promoted and encouraged," Ms Scarr continued.

Commenting on research recently conducted by Arval that showed aids such as parking sensors have reduced incidents in the company's fleet by 25 per cent, she stated reverse parking is a good example of a manoeuvre that still requires good driving skills.

Ms Scarr explained motorists need to understand and appreciate the techniques parking requires, even when using a sensor.

Last month, Director of RoadSafe Adrian Walsh attributed a fall in road fatalities to the development of new and safer vehicles.

Posted by Sarah Bailey