As Computers Take the Drivers Seat, Experts Worry About Safety

Car software that does much of the work of driving is becoming more capable by the week.But, strangely enough, the better the technology becomes at steering, braking and navigating, the riskier it may be at least some of the time.Experts call it automation complacency.

In other words, drivers may overestimate what the technology can do and become so reliant on it that they stop paying attention and are unprepared when something goes wrong.That happened recently to Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, who has used the self-driving features of his Tesla for years.He dropped his cellphone while driving in Palo Alto, Calif., and bent over to pick it up, thinking that the technology would keep the car on a safe path.But apparently the system, which relies on cameras, was not engaged, Mr.

Shanahan told reporters in August.His car veered into oncoming traffic, causing a crash that left him with broken bones and a concussion.One lesson Mr.

Shanahan learned was that driving “is a partnership,” he told the reporters.“You don’t just turn it over to a computer.”Most automakers are working on systems that, under certain conditions, steer and brake.

Their ultimate aim is to sell fully autonomous vehicles that can act as robot chauffeurs so good that passengers will be able to read, work or fall asleep.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe....