The Future of Advanced Driver Assist Systems

Since 2012, car manufacturers have begun incorporating ADAS technology or Advanced Driver Assist Systems and with promises of protecting drivers and reducing accidents, consumer demand is expected to increase exponentially.

What are Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS)?

ADAS features can detect both moving objects, alert the driver of potentially hazardous conditions or in some cases, even slow down and automatically stop the vehicle. According to McKinsey, repurchase rate by drivers today who have used ADAS vehicles is 87-89% and is expected to increase as many have forgotten how to drive without it. After collision especially, these features need to be repaired to their pre-collision condition.

ADAS, Collisions & OEM Procedures

In order to keep costs low and comply with insurance policies, many auto repair shops have been pressured to disregard OEM procedures almost completely but in doing so, these vehicles are more likely to get into future car accidents. More than 50% of new car owners with ADAS systems said that its features helped prevent a crash in the first 90 days they had the vehicle and 35% credited forward collision alert or automatic braking with preventing a crash. With the increasing instances of vehicles owners driving and relying on incorrectly repaired ADAS features, the landscape has become life-threatening, state and federal governments have stepped in.

New York State will soon require repair shops to strictly follow OEM guidelines for collision repairs and forbid insurance companies from requiring repair shops to sway from those set standards. If OEM procedures require a scan, calibration or diagnostic test of a vehicle’s electronic system before and after, insurance shops must not instruct repairers to deviate and thus, they will have no choice but to comply. Over 60% of vehicles that went through a body shop had inadequate repairs that affected the value or operation.  With this alarmingly high statistics, many states across the nation such as California and New Hampshire have followed suit and are introducing and drafting ADAS vehicle inspection and protection bills in hopes of increasing vehicle and passenger safety to prevent future collisions.

Since 2009, California has passed various regulations updating the driving standards  for ADAS as well as autonomous vehicles. Proposed and passed was a bill pinpointing the liability for ADAS featured vehicles that have gotten into a car accident. Not only are manufacturers held to a higher standard in terms of collision liability but auto repair shops are also expected to correctly repair these systems. California legislature has also mandated inspection tests by the manufacturer before selling them to consumers and hopes to reign in on vehicle safety by increasing the number of regulations that car manufactures and auto related facilities must comply with in updating ADAS features and in the future, autonomous vehicles. California, amongst others have pressured the federal government in passing ADAS safety legislation and as the industry continues to expand, vehicle safety standards may very well be stricter and pro-consumer.

Have Any Questions?

If you have any questions regarding  Advanced Driver Assist Systems or its affect on auto shops and insurance company related legislation, give us a call or contact us today!