Driver-assist technology can prevent road casualties but about half of Australian motorists have disabled the “proven” smart features in their cars, IAG research has found.

“In a modernising vehicle fleet with driver-assist safety features as standard, we would expect to see a positive correlation in reduced accident and casualty rates,” head of IAG Research Centre Shawn Ticehurst said.

“But that’s not happening and it needs to change if we want to see fewer accidents. We believe full uptake of driver-assist systems in Australia has the potential to prevent 20% of road casualties each year.

“This research explores why the full benefits of this proven safety technology are not yet being realised and identifies opportunities to maximise its potential to reduce accidents, prevent injuries and save lives.”

Distraction caused by alerts is the leading barrier to motorists using advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), according to the research conducted alongside Queensland University of Technology and federally funded iMOVE Co-operative Research Centre.

“Australian drivers are not simply uninformed,” the research report says. “Many have experienced ADAS and are concerned about the loss of control when the driver-assist systems take over.”

Persistent warnings and false alerts are other issues raised in the survey of 2024 drivers with ADAS-enabled cars.

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“Given these concerns, it is potentially unsurprising that almost half of drivers of ADAS-fitted vehicles currently turn these features off on a regular basis – particularly ones like lane-keeping assist, where they feel like they are losing control of the vehicle,” the report says.

Drivers are most resistant to “active alerts” such as lane-keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking notifications, but they find passive features such as blind spot and forward collision warnings helpful.

Mr Ticehurst says as safety technology evolves rapidly, the human cost of driver education failing to keep pace is too great to ignore.

About 72% of survey respondents indicated they would benefit from more information or instruction on ADAS to ensure they are generating the best safety outcomes.

At present, most vehicle buyers are given some level of information or resources to explain ADAS features, but the licensing system does little to close the experiential gap that is needed to build trust, the report says.

Only 19% of drivers who recently had a driving test or lesson were taught anything about ADAS.

Queensland University of Technology field research found a single ADAS test drive with an instructor increased motorists’ trust, confidence and intention to use all crash-avoidance systems tested.

“Experience is the lever drivers want, and the one that moves them, so the answer is to give them more of it: at the point of sale, in driver training and through demonstrations,” the report says.