ADAS. What the hell is it? You might want to know, since more and more cars in the Indian car market are getting it. Let us look at the full-form of it first. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. That is what ADAS stands for. It is basically a bunch of electronic systems and sensors that help you and assist you while you are driving a car. Is it necessary in India, though? Now, this is a controversial topic.
See the thing is, we all know that Indian driving conditions are much different compared to global driving conditions. Our roads are absolutely chaotic and anyone can come out of nowhere. Whereas in developed countries, drivers are disciplined and traffic is more orderly, so ADAS can work more efficiently. Whereas in India, ADAS won’t be able to work efficiently. There are some features that are made for a specific environment. In this case, ADAS is effective for a specific environment, but not for India. There are two types-Passive ADAS and Active ADAS. Level-1 ADAS is the type that warns you and allows you, the driver, to take effective judgement. A good example is blind-spot detection. Active ADAS systems on the other hand, take control of the car in order to help the driver, if necessary. Examples include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane-keep Assist, and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). I personally think that we do not need Active ADAS in India, and it can actually be dangerous on Indian roads and cause accidents if not used carefully. It might for example, brake aggressively when not required, and you might get rear-ended, Also, some lane-keep-assist ADAS systems currently in India(I do not want to take names) are know to counter-correct the steering very aggressively. Passive ADAS, particularly blind-spot detection, can be very useful on Indian roads. If you have a car with Active ADAS, don’t worry. Enjoy the convenience, but use it judiciously and wisely. Also, turn it off temporarily if you think it is dangerously over-intervening. And for those who cannot buy a car with ADAS, please don’t regret, it’s not a necessity.
