Technology in cars is expanding rapidly, especially in the realm of driver assists. Many new vehicles offer automation in the form of adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, or lane-keep assist, never mind more advanced Level 2 systems like Tesla's Autopilot. Despite the obvious safety advantages, there is a dark side to these systems. They can encourage unsafe driver activity behind the wheel.
To prevent drivers from simply ignoring the outside world while using these advanced systems, most brands incorporate at least some measure of monitoring tech to ensure drivers remain attentive and alert. Of course, some companies are better at this than others, and Consumer Reports will now consider that as a factor when evaluating its annual Top Picks. Specifically, two points will be awarded to vehicles that have adequate driver monitoring systems. On the flip side, two points will be deducted for vehicles where driver monitoring is lacking.
