Warning over little-known buttons making you a worse driver & that could see you fined
DRIVERS have been warned about using little-known car buttons that could actually make you a worse driver.
They could also see motorists hit with severe penalties, including massive fines if they break the law.
Research carried out for shows that two thirds of Brits are at risk of over reliance on automated car tech.
Not only could they make people worse drivers, but any accidents caused while using this tech could land motorists with costly penalties.
As car tech becomes more advanced novice motorists are not gaining the experience of basic skills - with 37 per cent saying the reason they use assisted car tech is because it makes driving easier.
Half of drivers say they use the assisted features every time they drive and 25 per cent admitted they always use it to park – where basic driving skills like parallel parking, speed control and timely braking are all taken out of the driver's control.
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Usually switches on the dashboard can activate assisted tech and can provide an extra layer of protection for motorists.
Some 43 per cent of those polled said they felt safer when using these features compared to traditional driving.
However, under rule 150 of the Highway Code, it states that drivers are responsible for their car while using any driver assistance systems.
This means drivers must always have control over these systems and cannot hold the car technology responsible for any accidents.
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Driving without due care and attention carries a penalty of either a disqualification, or between three and nine points, so those relying heavily on their tech should make sure it isn’t distracting them while driving.
Drivers are also warned to notify their car insurance provider of all automated tech in their car as this could affect their premiums.
Features like parking sensors can be considered a modification, all modifications need to be declared to the provider or they could risk invalidating the policy.
Having sensors can actually reduce premium prices, so although many modern vehicles now include them as standard, it’s certainly worth checking to make sure the insurer is fully informed.
The boss of car insurance comparison site Quotezone Greg Wilson believes technology is watering down drivers’ ability to control their vehicles.
He said: ”Our survey results show the majority of people have some sort of automated technology in their cars, and many of them are relying on it regularly when it comes to basic driving skills.
“Things like parallel parking, timely braking, cruise control and navigation have all been taken out of the drivers' control by automated car systems.
“This raises a question around whether this is making us worse drivers, considering many of us are no longer practicing driving skills to complete these, sometimes tricky, manoeuvres.”
The poll also indicated that motorists had gotten complacent when they were behind the wheel as 12 per cent confessed the look away from the road more often.
Taking your eyes off the road is against the law and could see motorists issued penalties for driving without due care and attention.
They face getting hit with between three and nine penalty points, along with a £100 fine.
However, in more severe cases, drivers could face a £5,000 fine and also could be disqualified from driving.
Wilson said: “Drivers must ensure they are following the Highway Code and that none of these assisted features are causing a distraction or lack of concentration. Failure to do so could land them with hefty fines, points on their license or even disqualification.
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“When it comes to insurance, any drivers adding car technology systems must let their insurance provider know.
“This ensures their policy is accurate and up to date – failure to do so could lead to a void policy, leaving drivers unprotected should they need to make a claim.”
