The expansion is in response to the increase in number of vehicles with intelligent systems on UK roads, with Autoglass planning to open a further 11 centres this year – taking the total in the UK to at least 70 by end-2018. The new centres are spread across the UK, including York, Cambridge, Plymouth and Stirling.

ADAS calibration is required following a windscreen replacement of many new vehiclesutoglass

AutoGlass experienced a two-fold increase in the number of ADAS calibrations in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year earlier. Recent research by Autoglass found that 9% of all windscreens replaced require ADAS calibration, with this figure rising to 34% for vehicles in car or van fleets.

AutoGlass say many car owners remain unaware of this essential safety requirement and research shows 68% of drivers ignore their vehicle manufacturers’ advice to calibrate their safety system – which Autoglass believes important for fleets considering they tend to run newer vehicles.

Jeremy Rochfort, national sales manager Autoglass says: “The adoption rate of ADAS in fleet vehicles is much higher as fleet cars tend to be newer and come with up-to-date safety features. However, our research shows that keeping up to date with technology ranks low down on Fleet Decision-Maker’s priorities. That’s why we’re investing in educating the fleet industry on the importance of ADAS calibration and in our technical expertise and capabilities to ensure we can match the rising demand for these services.

“The static sites cover a large proportion of the UK and complement our dynamic calibration service, meaning wherever you or your drivers are Autoglass has the capability to offer the smoothest possible customer journey.”

Cameras and sensors support most ADAS technologies in new cars enabling safety features, such as autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warnings. However, the systems require recalibration following a windscreen replacement, to ensure they can still accurately detect potential dangers.

The new centres benefit from technicians who are put through a three-year training scheme and are required to have either Level 1 or Master IMI accreditation.