A new survey conducted by Warrantywise has found that nearly half of UK drivers don’t understand basic warning lights for ADAS systems such as lane assist, adaptive cruise control and smart key functions, which raises serious concerns about the real-world impact of increasingly complex car technology and advanced driver assistance systems
The warnings and alerts, and associated symbols, now found on many vehicle dashboards appear to be causing more confusion than confidence, with 41% of drivers admitting they don’t recognize or understand the warning lights for basic ADAS systems, according to a 2025 poll by Warrantywise.
In a world where cars can steer, brake and park themselves, many drivers are left struggling with what should be the most basic line of communication from their car: the dashboard. When that confusion leads to hesitation or inaction, it can have real-world, and serious, consequences. A major concern is that if drivers don’t recognize a warning light, they may wait too long to take action, potentially turning a minor issue into a major fault – with implications for repair costs as well as for road safety.
Antony Diggins, managing director at Warrantywise, says, “Modern vehicles are more connected and capable than ever – but that complexity isn’t always matched by driver knowledge or confidence. Dashboard alerts are designed to keep us safe, but they’re only effective if drivers know what they mean – and act on them.
“Technology is a brilliant thing when it works, but even something as simple as not recognizing a warning light can cause drivers to delay action. Vehicles may be getting smarter, but we believe peace of mind should still be simple.”
Warrantywise’s findings reflect a broader concern across the industry about so-called ‘tech overload’. A 2021 JD Power study found that 61% of drivers don’t regularly use their vehicles’ advanced features. As vehicles continue to integrate more electronic systems, being able to identify when something isn’t right has never been more important. For those unsure what their dashboard is telling them, Warrantywise urges drivers not to ignore it.
RELATED: ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle International sits down with Plus staff research engineers Anurag Paul and Inderjot Saggu to discuss the company’s three-layer architecture that is powering autonomous trucking’s move from research into real-world deployment, ahead of their presentation at ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Summit North America 2025, which will take place at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on August 27 & 28. Read the full interview here