A survey for AXA Deutschland, conducted by YouGov among more than 2,000 German adults, found that nearly half of drivers under 25 use car assistance systems to check messages or eat while driving. The findings raise concerns that technology designed to improve safety may also encourage distraction.
Among drivers aged 18 to 24, 48% admit to using driver aids for activities unrelated to driving. The figure is even higher for young men, at 63%. Technology meant to keep people safe can give drivers a green light to get distracted.
From July 2026, the EU will require all new car types to include a driver distraction warning system. It will monitor eye movement and head position, while also detecting blinking or signs of fatigue. The system will issue alerts or, in certain cases, initiate emergency stops.
Still, most people like these systems. Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed say automation makes roads safer. But even fans have doubts: 44% think drivers trust the technology too much and become careless. Arne Kleines, AXA’s Director of Motor Insurance, put it bluntly: “Those who see technology as a substitute for their own attention quickly turn a safety improvement into an additional risk.”
City drivers see the biggest upside. Forty-one percent of urban residents say automation has helped them dodge danger, compared with 34% in rural areas. City streets are crowded, with scooter traffic weaving around cyclists and pedestrians. Early warnings matter, but city traffic also tempts drivers to multitask. A sense of safety can fool people.
Not everyone is careless. Drivers who are on the road at least five days a week use these systems more responsibly: only 12% of frequent drivers admit to using assistance features for distractions. These drivers are both the most hopeful about the technology and the most careful with it.
The European Road Safety Observatory identifies driver distraction as a factor in 10% to 30% of all accidents, showing the issue extends beyond autopilots and driver assistance systems. EU regulators expect new safety technologies could prevent up to 25,000 deaths and 140,000 serious injuries annually, making attention monitoring a regulatory priority.
Automation also brings risks. Thirty-seven percent of people say these systems have already helped them avoid danger, but more than 20% have ended up in risky situations because of a driver assistance feature. The line between help and hazard is thin, and overconfidence can blur it.
Nearly half of Germans think future generations won’t be able to lead safely without these technologies. Younger drivers already regard automation as part of ordinary driving, rather than a separate tool. This gap is shaping how carmakers and regulators roll out new autonomous features across Europe.
France is now testing Tesla’s autonomous driving systems. The results could determine whether this technology spreads to Spain and other European countries. The basic question is what people do when the car takes over. New rules for personal mobility vehicles are also coming, including Spain’s upcoming ban on uncertified electric scooters, as reported earlier. The debate over how much trust to put in automation is heating up.
Automation can save lives, but only if drivers stay alert. Europe must ensure people use the technology wisely. Safer roads still depend on each driver’s attention.
