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Research with 1,350 UK Drivers Shows Many Driving Assistants Remain Disabled: 25.9% of Owners with Adaptive Cruise Control Never Use It, 21.3% Disable Automatic Emergency Braking, and Nearly 18% Avoid Lane Keeping Assistance, Citing Interventions Considered Aggressive in Their Daily Routine.
Driving assistants are increasingly present in modern cars, but the availability of these technologies does not necessarily mean drivers are willing to use them. A survey conducted in the UK found significant numbers of owners leaving assistance systems disabled, avoiding certain features, or not even knowing how to activate them.
According to a survey by Censuswide commissioned by the British group Dick Lovett, 1,350 British drivers were interviewed during the summer of 2026. The results contrast the increasing amount of embedded technology with the actual usage of these resources by owners.
One in Four Owners Never Uses Adaptive Cruise Control
Among participants who have adaptive cruise control, known as ACC, 25.9% reported never using the feature. Another 7% claimed they wouldn’t even know how to operate it if they wanted to.
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The system is designed to automatically adjust the vehicle’s speed and maintain a defined distance from the car in front. Yet, the data shows that simply having the equipment in the car does not ensure that the driver incorporates the function into their routine.
Automatic Braking is Also Disabled by Some Drivers
Another finding involves automatic emergency braking. Among the surveyed owners with the feature, 21.3% reported disabling it, despite it being a technology designed to intervene in potential collision situations.
The survey links part of this rejection to how some users perceive the interventions of the driving assistants. Some drivers consider certain systems overly aggressive or sensitive, feeling that interventions can be disruptive during driving.
Nearly 18% Avoid Lane Keeping Assistance
Resistance is also seen with lane keeping assistance. Nearly 18% of drivers with access to the equipment reported avoiding its use, forming another significant group of users who prefer to drive without automatic intervention.
This type of system can act on the steering when it detects that the vehicle is approaching or crossing lane markings. However, for some respondents, the sensation of interference in the steering helps explain why the function remains disabled.
Driving Assistants Face a Problem Beyond Simple Rejection
The results do not only indicate people who have tried a technology and decided to abandon it. In the case of adaptive cruise control, 7% of owners reported not knowing how to use the function, even though it is installed in their vehicle.
This data adds another element to the discussion: vehicles can offer an increasing number of features without all buyers clearly understanding how each system works. This helps separate conscious rejection from simple unfamiliarity with the equipment.
Simple features rank among the most used
While more complex systems face resistance, some relatively simple technologies have much higher acceptance. Bluetooth connectivity was reported by 58.3% of respondents among the features used, leading the survey.
The rearview camera appears with 45.7%, followed by integrated navigation at 44.5%, and the heated windshield used by 41%. The contrast suggests that ease of understanding and immediate utility weigh heavily on the everyday use of embedded technology.
Driving modes also remain forgotten much of the time
Even functions present in many current models do not necessarily become habits. Only 27.3% of participants reported regularly using the driving modes available in their vehicles.
These modes typically allow drivers to alter the vehicle’s operating characteristics based on options like comfort, fuel economy, or sport driving. However, the research shows that offering multiple settings does not mean the owner will frequently switch between them.
Massage seats and augmented reality also see low usage
Low adoption does not just apply to driving assistants. Among respondents with massage seats, only 22% reported using them regularly. The head-up display with augmented reality had frequent usage of 22.4% among those with the feature.
In the case of the augmented reality system, 17.1% of owners claimed they never activated it, while another 7% said they did not know how to operate the technology. Remote start, in turn, was used regularly by 24.5% of owners who had access to the feature.
Age also changes how technology is used
The survey found significant differences among age groups. Among people aged 25 to 34, 68.5% used Bluetooth, a percentage similar to the 68.8% recorded among drivers aged 35 to 44. Among drivers aged 55 and older, the rate fell to 49.7%.
Wireless charging showed an even larger discrepancy: 44.4% among drivers aged 35 to 44, compared to 20.7% among those aged 55 and above. Meanwhile, the use of the heated windshield increased among older age groups, approaching 45% among drivers aged 45 to 54.
Available technology doesn’t always mean understood technology
Alex Lee, an automotive specialist affiliated with Dick Lovett, assessed that owners can gain more benefit from vehicles by dedicating time to understand the available equipment. In the view presented alongside the survey, better knowing the features can contribute not only to maximizing a car’s value but also to safety and comfort.
The numbers indicate that the discussion on driving assistants does not solely rely on installing more sensors, cameras, and electronic systems. User experience, the clarity of commands, and how the vehicle interacts with driving also influence whether that technology remains engaged.
Drivers reveal the limit between electronic assistance and control at the wheel
The British survey exposes a paradox of current cars: equipment is incorporated to assist the driver, yet some owners prefer to drive without certain interventions. This situation is particularly evident when 25.9% never use adaptive cruise control, 21.3% disable automatic emergency braking, and nearly 18% avoid lane keeping assistance.
At the same time, simple functions such as Bluetooth and rear cameras are among the most utilized. For manufacturers, the challenge may not just be adding more technology to the car, but also developing systems that drivers understand, accept, and genuinely want to keep functioning.
And you: do you usually keep all driving assistants activated in your car, or is there a system you prefer to deactivate because you find its intervention annoying? Share your experience in the comments.
