A significant update to the Highway Code could be on the horizon, as road safety experts raise concerns about how many UK drivers are ignoring or disabling in-car safety technology. According to Daily Record, new data reveals that a large number of motorists—particularly those who drive less than 10,000 miles per year—are failing to use advanced features designed to prevent accidents and reduce fatalities.
The findings come from the 2024 IAM RoadSmart Road Safety Report, which surveyed 2,000 drivers and uncovered a worrying trend: people are opting out of using systems like cruise control, speed warnings, and collision alerts, even when their cars are equipped with them.
Drivers Are Ignoring Built-In Safety Systems
Modern vehicles often come equipped with driver assistance features intended to support safer driving. These include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, collision warning systems, and speed alerts. But the report highlights a lack of usage and awareness among many motorists.
Only 23% of drivers said they regularly use their vehicle’s collision alert system, and 34% admitted they never use cruise control at all. Speed warnings were more commonly used, but still, only 28% of respondents said they used them consistently.
Interestingly, drivers who cover more than 10,000 miles a year are significantly more likely to use their vehicle’s safety features. In contrast, low-mileage drivers, many of whom only use their cars for short, local trips, are the least likely to rely on these tools—even though they are just as vulnerable to accidents.
Younger Drivers and High-Mileage Users Lead the Way
The report also revealed age-related and demographic differences in how drivers use in-car tech. Younger drivers (17–34) are nearly twice as likely to use advanced systems compared to those aged 70 and above. Additionally, male drivers were more likely to rely on in-car tech than female drivers.
Those who drive for work or commute long distances tend to make better use of assistance technologies, possibly due to familiarity or necessity. But safety experts warn that older and low-mileage drivers may not realise the benefits these systems offer—or may actively disable them out of discomfort or misunderstanding.
Calls for Highway Code Revisions Grow Louder
In response to the findings, road safety campaigners are urging the government to revise the Highway Code to include stronger guidance encouraging drivers to use built-in safety features. The goal is to normalise their use, especially as vehicles become increasingly automated.
Nicholas Lyes, Director of Policy and Standards at IAM RoadSmart, explained that while some systems can feel intrusive, they are designed to complement human judgement, not replace it.
“Many might switch off certain systems because the alarm might be irritating or because they don’t like the feel of the steering wheel autocorrecting… There’s potentially an exercise for both individuals and fleet managers to ensure drivers and colleagues learn more about these systems.”
Updating the Highway Code to recommend that drivers familiarise themselves with safety features and use them properly could help reduce crashes and save lives, Lyes added.
