They are not safety systems, they are driver assistance systems - that's why they can be turned off. Safety systems cannot be turned off.
NCAP is the reason that almost all new cars NCAP tested since last year default these systems on at every drive.
Now, manufacturers could ignore NCAP but they rarely do as it causes hysterical safety headlines like Renault got when they released a bare-bones Zoe that received 0 stars. It isn't the law to follow NCAP, they are just an advisory body.
SAIC are guilty of two things:
- Not having LKA working well enough out of the box.
- Not providing a simpler way to turn it off.