Advanced driver-assistance systems aren’t so advanced that drivers can disengage with the road ahead, a new AAA study found.

In fact, they need to take back control from the systems about every nine minutes on average based on testing of five passenger vehicles with systems that operate at low speeds.

The 2024 vehicles used in the testing were the Ford F-150 Platinum SuperCrew 4WD, Honda Accord LX Sedan, Lexus RX 450h+ Luxury, Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, and Volkswagen Atlas SE AWD with Technology Package.

AAA chose both hands-off systems that allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel unless conditions require it, and hands-on systems that require constant hands on the wheel.

ADA systems use cameras and radars to assess driving conditions, such as road striping, traffic and obstacles. The hands-off versions also follow premapped roads in the systems, AAA said.

Even drivers using hands-off systems needed to take over about every five miles, or 15 minutes, AAA said. Those using hands-on systems had to intervene three times as often. 

Events requiring driver management were those in which the ADA system wasn’t handling them sufficiently, the most common in the study being other vehicles cutting off the test vehicle and insufficient lane-centering.

Despite advances in ADA systems, the testing shows they’re not replacements for people. It calls on automakers to work on improving their systems’ cut-off response and lane-centering, along with making system deactivation alerts more obvious to drivers.

For drivers, it advises staying alert and prepared to take over as they would without the tech assistants, including putting mobile devices away – basically keeping their eyes on the road. It also recommends keeping a safe following distance and familiarizing themselves with how their vehicle’s system works.