When Cars Get Smarter, Does Driving Get Safer? A Human Factors Analysis of Modern Vehicle Technology

Modern vehicles are packed with technology designed to make driving easier and safer, from lane-assist and adaptive cruise control to automated braking and semi-autonomous driving features. But as cars take on more of the driving task, new questions arise about how well drivers understand, trust, and interact with these systems.

This webinar brings together three experts in human factors and forensic engineering to explore the real-world implications of vehicle technology and automation on driver behaviour. Our experts will examine how different technology and levels of automation affect driver attention and reaction time, what happens when systems hand control back to the driver unexpectedly, and when technologies like pedestrian detection and auto-braking improve our performance.

Drawing on case studies, research, and hands-on vehicle testing, we will unpack where these systems succeed, where they fall short, and what that means for driver safety and liability.

This one-hour accredited* Continuing Education webinar is designed for legal and insurance professionals. We hope you will join us.

REGISTER HERE

*Continuing Education Credits: Accredited for 1 substantive CLE hour by the Law Societies of Ontario and British Columbia. Approval for 1 hour of California MCLE credit is pending renewal. We anticipate confirmation before the program date; however, if renewal is received after the event, certificates will be issued to eligible attendees upon confirmation. Legal and insurance professionals in other jurisdictions that permit self-reporting may also be eligible to claim participation, subject to applicable requirements. Participants are responsible for determining whether this program meets the requirements of their governing body, regulator, or professional association. A certificate of completion will be provided to attendees.

For more information and to get your name on our mailing list, contact Mireille Maheu.

The presenters – Human Factors

Pamela D'Addario, MASc PEng

Pamela D’Addario is a senior engineer and leads MEA Forensic’s Human Factors group. With a background in mechanical engineering and human factors, Pam combines her understanding of car crash dynamics and driver behavior when answering questions about collision severity, vehicle speed, avoidance potential, nighttime visibility, and driver response times. Read Pamela's full bio.

Pamela's presentation | One-Pedal Driving & Low Speed Scenarios:

• What is one-pedal driving and how does it affect driving behaviour, including low-speed scenarios
• Sudden Unintended Acceleration case studies
• Factors to consider and questions to ask that may uncover new issues in your cases

 

Caleb Cohen, MASc

Caleb Cohen is a Human Factors Scientist and investigates human behavior in the context of damage or injury-producing events. He has tested how drivers react at night, and during takeover requests in semiautonomous vehicles. He is active in MEA’s current research into how drivers adapt to one-pedal driving in electric vehicles. Read Caleb's full bio.

Caleb's presentation | Intro to Human Factors & Automation Levels:

• We bought a Tesla—MEA’s research on how drivers interact with pedals differently in EVs vs. gas-powered cars
• Explaining vehicle automation levels in 2026, including where Tesla and Waymo currently fall
• How does your (semi-)autonomous vehicle communicate with you about its capabilities/limits? Research perspective on warnings and takeover requests

Kurt Ising, MASc PEng

Kurt Ising is a senior engineer and investigates motor vehicle accidents and driver performance issues. He has developed a method for measuring light levels at accident locations to objectively assesses drivers' visual performance. He has published peer-reviewed research on nighttime visibility, perception-response time and the effects of driver distraction. Read Kurt's full bio.

Kurt's presentation | Where can automation improve our performance?:

• Pedestrian detection is better (except when its not) – Cars can “see” better than humans at night but have shown a strange problem detecting retroreflectors
• Braking is faster – Auto-braking can speed up our own tentative braking
• Detection of closing speed is better – Looming detection is something humans can’t pick up until relatively close.