ADAS

ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) covers driving features that help a human driver but do not replace them: adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and combined systems that steer and brake at once. Under the [SAE levels](/glossary/sae-levels), ADAS sits at Levels 1 and 2. The driver must supervise the system at all times and remains legally responsible.

The distinction matters because ADAS and automated driving systems (ADS, Level 3 and above) are regulated and reported differently. In the US, NHTSA's Standing General Order requires crash reports for both, in separate categories. A Level 2 system that markets itself as self-driving is still ADAS, which is the center of most disputes over driver-assist branding.