Warning over ‘self driving’ car ad claims

CAR makers have been warned of the dangers of suggesting vehicles with some automated features can drive themselves.

Experts say manufacturers are lulling drivers into a false sense of security by using terms such as ‘autonomous’ and ‘autopilot’ in their advertising.

A report says it poses a danger as drivers become over-reliant on the technology and lose concentration at the wheel.

Many modern vehicles increasingly offer partly automated features such as keeping the car within its lane, speed controls or emergency braking. However, experts say fully self-driving cars are still a long way off in the UK.

A report commissioned by the Association of British Insurers said simply using the word ‘autonomous’ in marketing literature for modern cars is dangerous.

It said there was growing evidence of people ‘crashing whilst over-relying on technology which is not yet designed to drive the car independently’.

Vehicle makers are giving technology ‘misleading names’ such as AutoPilot and ProPilot, said the report.

Thatcham Research, which compiled the report, called for car makers to make sure drivers are clearly told what vehicles sold with automated technology can and cannot do.