The Assessor Mag Autumn 2024 Web - Flipbook - Page 26
JOURNAL
EURO NCAP
All the systems tested by Euro NCAP provide assistance only.
Safety Backup scenarios have been expanded to include
motorcyclist avoidance, alongside pedestrians and cyclists.
EURO NCAP
RELEASES ASSISTED HIGHWAY
DRIVING GRADINGS FOR FIVE
POPULAR CAR MODELS
With Assisted Driving becoming an increasingly common feature on the options list,
EuroNCAP has put 昀椀ve new cars to the test against its latest protocols and 昀椀nds wide
differences in manufacturers’ implementation of the technology.
uro NCAP’s assessment
of Assisted Driving
systems, 昀椀rst
introduced in 2020,
rests on two pillars:
Assistance Competence, the balance
between the level of assistance offered
by the vehicle and the degree to which
the system helps the driver remain
engaged in the driving task and of
the limitations of the system; and
Safety Backup, the measures taken in
critical situations to avoid a collision.
In 2024, Euro NCAP extended its
driver monitoring requirements and
introduced additional measures to
improve speed assistance related to
lane relevance, road features, and
local hazards. Furthermore, Safety
Backup scenarios have been expanded
to include motorcyclist avoidance,
alongside pedestrians and cyclists.
E
Tested under these conditions, the
Assisted Driving systems of two cars
stood out, with exceptional levels of
Assistance Competence and excellent
Safety Backup. The BMW i5 and
the Mercedes-Benz C-Class were
considered ‘Very Good’, the systems
of both providing robust speed and
lateral control to take much of the
driving load, while keeping the driver
‘in the loop’, to take back control
if needed. For Safety Backup, the
Mercedes scored particularly highly,
26
the car moving to the hard shoulder
and performing a controlled stop if the
driver is unresponsive.
development of these technologies to
provide consumers with relevant safety
information.
The Volkswagen ID.7 and Volvo EC40
(previously the C40 Recharge) were
given a ‘Good’ grading. Both cars
performed well, although they lacked
some of the more sophisticated
features and robust performance of the
BMW and the Mercedes-Benz.
“These evaluations provide consumers
with critical insights into the Assisted
Driving features available in today's
vehicles,” said Adriano Palao Bernal,
ADAS & AD Technical Manager Euro
NCAP. “First, car buyers interested
in this technology must be aware
that whilst it enables a comfortable
driving experience, it has 昀氀aws under
certain conditions and may create new
risks when misused – hence driver
supervision and situational awareness
must be ensured at all times while
operating these systems.
Bringing up the rear, and ‘Not
Recommended’ by Euro NCAP, is
the BYD ATTO 3 with its Intelligent
Adaptive Cruise Control. The speed
assistance system did not interpret
road signs correctly and scored only
modestly in Assistance Competence.
However, it was in Safety Backup
where the car did not reach minimum
standards, speci昀椀cally the overall poor
performance of ACC against stationary
vehicles, and the lack of action taken in
case of an unresponsive driver. In this
critical scenario, the system effectively
switches off steering support after a
prolonged period of inactivity whilst
maintaining speed control – leaving an
unresponsive driver to his or her fate.
All the systems tested by Euro
NCAP provide assistance only. More
advanced technologies are emerging
that will allow drivers to no longer
remain focused on the driving task.
Euro NCAP will continue to monitor the
“Now in 2024, the assessment has
evolved, incorporating two main
updates: speci昀椀c requirements for
Driver Monitoring, evaluating the
effectiveness of the technology
in detecting typical driver states
associated with risk, such as system
overreliance, prolonged distraction,
and sudden onset, eventually
leading to a vehicle response that
may help prevent a crash. Then, the
introduction of Vulnerable Road Users
traveling ahead at a small offset in
ACC Performance and Safety Backup
scenarios ensures that ACC addresses
accident types typical in interurban
areas.”
JOURNAL
THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL | AUTUMN 2024 | www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor
