Drivers Leery of Automated-Parking Systems

Vehicles equipped with self-parking technology can parallel park faster, closer to the curb and in fewer maneuvers than drivers who park manually with the aid of a back-up camera, according to AAA. The insurance and automotive service provider says automated systems also result in fewer curb strikes.

But only one in four people surveyed by AAA trust the technology. Nearly 80% expressed confidence in their own parallel parking skills. AAA partnered with the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center, to test self-parking features on five 2015 models: a Lincoln MKC, Mercedes-Benz ML400 4Matic, Cadillac CTS-V Sport, BMW i3 and a Jeep Cherokee Limited.

AAA says self-parking systems parallel-parked the vehicle using 47% fewer maneuvers, and some systems completed the task in as little as one. The systems also parked vehicles 10% faster and were able to park 37% closer to the curb. In addition, AAA says, drivers using self-parking systems experienced 81% fewer curb strikes.

On the downside, the AAA tests found that some systems parked vehicles extremely close to the curb with as little as a half-inch buffer which it notes could result in unwanted contact that damages the wheels and/or tires. AAA recommends six to eight inches between the vehicle and the curb and says such tolerances should be built into future parking assist systems.