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New York driving lesson · Crashes & Driver Assistance

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)

A 3-minute lesson from the New York course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Crashes & Driver Assistance
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
78, 79

Many newer vehicles have driver assistance features that sense conditions, spot dangers and may help you avoid a crash. They assist you; they don't drive for you. You're still responsible for every move the vehicle makes, and some features can't be used on your road test.

Examples of ADAS safety features:

  • Blind spot warning
  • Back-up camera
  • Forward collision warning
  • Automatic emergency braking
  • Lane keeping assistance
  • Active parking assist
Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

These features may give alerts, such as sounds or vibration, or may take control of the vehicle, for example by adjusting braking or steering.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

Safety features assist with driving; they are not there to drive the vehicle. Stay engaged and focused, do head checks and use mirrors and cameras to watch traffic and other road users. Don't rely on safety features alone.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Tips for vehicles with safety features:

  • Always stay focused when driving
  • Read your owner's manual to learn how the features work
  • Know their limitations
  • They may not work properly in rain, snow, ice, fog, on hills or on curves
  • Keep sensors clean and damage-free
  • Keep software up to date and follow the manufacturer's recommendations
Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

On your driving test you will not be allowed to use certain safety features, such as parking assist and cruise control.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Features permitted on the road test

Features permitted on the road test
FeatureAllowed?
Warning systems: blind spot, collision, lane departure, etc.Yes
Cameras, parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alertYes
Automatic emergency braking; automatic reverse brakingYes
Lane keeping assist; left turn crash avoidanceYes
Adaptive cruise controlNo
Automatic parallel parkingNo
Handbook p. 79 ↗

Know the rule

The license examiner judges whether you showed you can drive the vehicle safely without relying on ADAS features, and the examiner's scoring is final.

Handbook p. 79 ↗

Put it into practice

Your car has lane keeping assist and a backup camera. On the road test you may keep them on, but you still need to do head checks and mirror scans. You can't use adaptive cruise control or let the car parallel park itself.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What is the main responsibility of a driver using ADAS safety features?
  1. Let the vehicle make the decisions
  2. Stay engaged and focused at all times
  3. Watch the road only on highways
  4. Turn the features off once moving

Answer: Stay engaged and focused at all times

ADAS features are meant to assist you, not drive the vehicle; you remain responsible for safe operation at all times.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
Which ADAS-related features are you barred from using during the road test?
  1. Backup cameras and blind-spot warning
  2. Lane keeping and automatic braking
  3. Parking assist and cruise control
  4. Forward collision and cross-traffic alerts

Answer: Parking assist and cruise control

On the road test, you are not allowed to use certain safety features, such as parking assist and cruise control.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
In which conditions might ADAS safety features fail to work properly?
  1. Only at speeds over 60 mph
  2. Rain, snow, fog, hills, and curves
  3. Only at night on unlit roads
  4. Only when parking in tight spaces

Answer: Rain, snow, fog, hills, and curves

ADAS features may not work properly in conditions such as rain, snow, ice, fog, hills, and curves.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
What kinds of alerts can ADAS safety features provide to the driver?
  1. Sounds, vibration, or taking control
  2. Only a dashboard light, no sound
  3. Only a phone notification
  4. None; ADAS is purely passive

Answer: Sounds, vibration, or taking control

ADAS features may provide alerts such as sounds or vibration, or may take control, such as adjusting braking or steering.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
Compare a forward collision warning system to automatic emergency braking. What differentiates them as ADAS features?
  1. They are the same feature
  2. A warning alerts you; AEB can brake itself
  3. AEB only works above 60 mph
  4. Only the warning is allowed on the road test

Answer: A warning alerts you; AEB can brake itself

Some ADAS features only alert you (forward collision warning), while others can take control, such as automatic emergency braking.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
You are allowed to use cruise control and parking assist during your road test.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

You are not allowed to use certain features, such as parking assist and cruise control, during the road test.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
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