A lack of awareness among drivers of key vehicle assistance systems and the need for calibration could pose safety issues for fleets, says ATS Euromaster.

ADAS safety systems must be properly calibrated to work effectively

A recent report from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) found just under 50% of drivers didn’t understand the need for accurate calibration on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

ADAS items include adaptive cruise control, which uses sensors to maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front, and lane keeping assist, which provides a correcting force to the steering wheel if the driver drifts out of lane.

But while ADAS offers a network of driver safety blankets, such complex systems require correct calibration to maintain maximum effectiveness if for any reason the vehicle has been involved in an incident that requires rectification of the vehicle.

Mark Holland, operations director of ATS Euromaster, warns that it’s an issue that will increasingly affect fleets.

“With the growing volume of fleet business taking up to 60% of the market, particularly in advanced battery electric vehicles, drivers really need to understand how ADAS can help their vehicle, but also how it can adversely affect safety if ADAS systems are not maintained and calibrated correctly.”

ADAS systems use a system of sensors which require recalibration if they are unintentionally repositioned following a collision, or if there is a repair to suspension or wheels.

Yet the IMI research found that fewer than half (47%) of drivers regarded ADAS calibration as an essential job while more than third (39%) incorrectly believed that ADAS calibration was part of the MOT test.

Only one in six (16%) of drivers were confident that ADAS on their vehicle had been recalibrated after repairs or maintenance.

Worryingly, 36% said that if their vehicle displayed an alert advising ADAS calibration, they would postpone the event until the next workshop visit

“It’s concerning that drivers have such limited understanding of how important it is to maintain ADAS systems fully calibrated,” continued Holland.

“The percentage of drivers prepared to ignore ADAS alerts is particularly worrying. This could have serious implications for fleet managers and their companies if the vehicle was to be involved in a crash as a result and could possibly void the insurance cover.”

ATS is urging all fleet managers to ensure drivers are aware of the safety systems on their vehicles and when recalibration might be required.

“ADAS systems provide critical safety assistance – but their usefulness depends on being properly calibrated all the time,” Holland stressed.