What you need to know about driver assistance technologies

Self-driving vehicles aren’t commercially available in Canada, but driver assistance technologies are becoming more common. Some of these technologies warn you if you’re at risk of a collision, while others can help avoid or reduce the severity of a crash. These technologies are paving the way for vehicles with more automation.

This page explains how these systems work and how to use them safely.

On this page

• Current driver assistance technologies
• How to safely use driver assistance technologies
• Types of driver assistance technologies
  • Collision warning
  • Collision intervention
  • Driving control assistance
  • Parking assistance
  • Other driver assistance systems

Current driver assistance technologies

Many vehicles have technologies to help you avoid collisions, or reduce their impact. These technologies are called Advanced Driver Assistance Systems or driver assistance technologies. Many driver assistance technologies, such as blind spot warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping assistance, have been available in Canada for several years. They may be standard on your vehicle or you may need to ask for them. Your vehicle’s manufacturer may use different names for the technology. Check with the manufacturer or your owner’s manual for more information about your vehicle’s technologies and abilities. There are a variety of driver assistance systems available today. Some systems:

• help you control a vehicle, like lane keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control
• warn you of hazards, like lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and blind spot warning
• only activate in specific situations, like automatic emergency braking

How to safely use driver assistance technologies

Know your vehicle. Get familiar with your vehicle’s technologies. Know what they can and can't do before you use them on public roads. Being informed will help prevent collisions and injuries.

Know your system. Manufacturers don’t always use standard terms when they tell you about your vehicle's systems. Some systems may turn on automatically while others may need to be turned on/off. Always know your vehicle's abilities before you drive.

Know your vehicle feature's limitations. Driver assistance technologies still need you to pay attention to the road and traffic. Some systems may only work in specific conditions. For example, within a certain speed, when lanes are visible, traffic lights are working properly, and when road markings are clear. You need to stay alert at all times whenever you drive.

For more information about your vehicle's features, check:

• the vehicle owner's manual
• the electronic owner's manual built into some cars' infotainment systems
• the dealer or seller, if you bought the vehicle
• the rental company, if you rented it
• the manufacturer

Types of driver assistance technologies

Collision warnings
Blind spot warning Warns drivers of a vehicle in their blind spot.	Forward collision warning Detects and warns the driver of a potential collision with a vehicle ahead. Some systems can also detect pedestrians or other objects.	Lane departure warning Monitors the vehicle’s position within the driving lane and alerts the driver as the vehicle drifts over the lane markings.
Parking collision warning Detects obstructions near the vehicle when parking.	Rear cross traffic warning Detects and alerts the driver about vehicles approaching from the side and rear when backing-up.
Collision intervention
Lane keeping assistance Assists with steering to maintain vehicle within driving lane.	Blind Spot Intervention Applies brakes or steers if the vehicle begins changing to a lane with a vehicle in its blind spot.	Automatic emergency steering Detects a potential collision and automatically steers to avoid or reduce the severity of an impact. Some systems can also detect pedestrians or other objects.
Automatic emergency braking Detects a potential collision with obstacles ahead, provides forward collision warning, and automatically applies the brakes to avoid or reduce the severity of the impact.	Reverse automatic braking Detects a potential collision while backing-up and automatically applies the brakes to avoid or reduce the severity of the impact. Some systems can also detect pedestrians or other objects.
Driving control assistance
Adaptive cruise control Helps speed-up and/or brake to maintain a preset distance between it and a vehicle in front. Some systems can also come to a stop and continue.	Active driving assistance Helps speed-up, brake, and steer. Some systems are limited to specific driving conditions.	Lane centering assistance Helps the driver to keep their vehicle at or near the center of a lane.
Parking assistance
Active parking assistance Controls steering and potentially other functions like braking and accelerating during parking. Driver may be responsible for acceleration, braking, and gear position. Some systems can parallel and/or perpendicular park.	Remote parking assistance Parks vehicle without the driver being physically present inside the vehicle. Automatically controls acceleration, braking, steering, and shifting.	Trailer assistance Helps the driver visually while while backing towards a trailer or during backing maneuvers with a trailer attached. Some systems can also provide other images while driving or backing with a trailer. Some systems may provide steering assistance during backing maneuvers.
Backup camera Provides view of area behind the vehicle when backing-up. Can include trailer assistance, a system that helps drivers during backing maneuvers with a trailer attached.
Other driver assistance systems
Crosswind stabilization This feature supports the vehicle when driving in strong crosswinds. The sensors in this system can detect strong pressure acting on the vehicle and help the driver stay in the lane.	Automatic crash notification An automatic crash notification system notifies emergency responders that a crash has occurred and provides the vehicle’s location.	Automatic high beam Automatic high beam switches from high to low beam headlamps depending on lighting and vehicles on the road.
Adaptive driving beam A high-beam headlamp system that adapts to the presence of vehicles and/or objects ahead of the vehicle.	Driver monitoring Monitors drivers to determine if they are actively engaged in driving. Some systems monitor the driver’s eye movement and head position.	Brake assist Assists with vehicle acceleration, braking, and steering. Some systems are limited to specific driving conditions.
Night vision Helps a driver’s vision at night by projecting enhanced images on instrument cluster or head-up display.	Electronic stability control Automatically brakes one or more wheels for short periods of time and/or reduces engine power to keep the vehicle moving in the intended direction when it swerves to avoid an obstacle.	Head-up display Projects an image of vehicle data and/or navigational information into the driver’s forward line of sight.
Surround view camera Uses cameras located around vehicle to display a view of its surroundings.	Roll stability control Limits vehicle roll by braking one or more wheels and reducing engine power in extreme cornering or evasive maneuvers.	Speed alert Reminds drivers of the current speed and/or alerts drivers when they drive above the speed limit.
Rear occupant alert system Alerts the driver to check the back seat of the vehicle in case any people or objects have been forgotten in the car.	Tire pressure monitors Monitors the air pressure of all the wheels and alerts the driver when a tire’s pressure drops below a safe level.

Related links

• Automated and connected vehicles
• Background: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems