Thatcham Research has launched a code of practice for recalibrating sensors for driver assistance systems after a windscreen replacement.

Even small errors in calibration of driver assistance systems can cause them not to work properly.

The guide shows how to identify which systems are fitted to the vehicle, runs through the calibration process for sensors, and gives advice about scheduling and pricing for the process.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) rely on camera, radar and LIDAR sensors which can recognise other road users, signs and lane markings and warn or take evasive action if required. If the systems are even fractionally misaligned, they can cause the systems to stop working properly.

The ADAS Glazing Code of Practice was developed by the ADAS Repair Group, which Thatcham Research leads, and which includes National Windscreens, Autoglass and Nationwide Crash Repair Centres as members.

Andrew Miller, Chief Technology Officer at Thatcham Research, said: “This voluntary code of practice now provides the added assurance of a best-practice approach, to make certain that the car is returned to its owner with exactly the same level of safety protection as when it came in for repair and where for whatever reason that’s not possible, that the customer is provided with guidance on what they need to do to have the systems recalibrated”.