Can India’s roads be trusted with the ADAS features on the Mahindra XUV.e9?

The XUV.e9 from Mahindra is packed with Level 2 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and automatic emergency braking. These technologies have become common in the Western markets, but there is controversy about their effectiveness in Indian driving conditions. Indian roads are different from anywhere else in the world, with unpredictable traffic patterns, frequent lane violations and a variety of vehicles and pedestrians sharing the road. The problem of road markings and signage is also there; many areas have inconsistent or no road markings and signage. ADAS has the potential to make roads safer, but how well it will work in actual Indian driving conditions is still to be seen. Can the system cope with the madness of Indian traffic, or will it just be another impediment? How much adaptation will be required to make these systems actually work on Indian roads?