NHTSA), in 2023, more than 3,200 individuals lost their lives in automobile accidents involving distracted drivers, while nearly 325,000 suffered injuries. In an era of cars equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), these figures may come as a shock. Nevertheless, some individuals seek to circumvent these systems utilizing what are referred to as defeat devices.
Defeat devices are tools designed to deceive a vehicle’s ADAS. Automobiles outfitted with driver-assistance features such as adaptive cruise control and lane centering generally include what are termed driver monitoring systems. These systems are established to ensure that the driver is genuinely attentive, employing cameras and pressure-sensitive steering wheels. However, defeat devices are intended to trick the system into believing that you are focused when in reality, you are not.
These devices extend beyond merely posing a problem for the casual driver who wishes to engage with social media during their commute. Commercial truck operators can also employ defeat devices to circumvent company-required monitoring systems. Additionally, diesel vehicles have made use of integrated defeat devices to manipulate the outcomes of emissions tests. The use of many of these devices is illicit, yet enforcement can prove challenging.
