What to Know About ADAS Systems in Cars After an Accident ?
When it comes to road safety, it's no secret that advancements in technology are greatly improving a myriad of areas. Advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, in particular, are a significant installation within cars that help to alert and assist drivers when preventing crashes or mitigating unwanted events while on the road. As these technologies are intrinsically designed to identify potential hazards both directly and quicker than drivers, some can also assist with reaction times. Of course, different installations will have varying capabilities, so understanding what to do with your ADAS system after an accident can be imperative.
A closer look at ADAS systems
Firstly, it's important to understand that these technologies have been designed to provide assistance, and drivers should never fully rely on their features and functions to ensure road safety. These will typically have a combination of software and hardware to improve reaction times by providing early warnings, but some can also potentially take control of the wheel or initiate breaking. As around 90% of cars manufactured after 2018 will have at least one ADAS system fitted, many drivers need to be aware of their maintenance. Of course, more advanced ADAS systems can be added as aftermarket features to better personalize the overall driving experience. This means that your car may have:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision warnings
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane departure warnings
- Traction control
- Traffic signal recognition
- High beam safety systems
- Blind spot warnings
- Rear cross traffic alerts
The software and hardware that will go into ensuring that each of the above features functions exactly as expected will be mounted in varying areas of the vehicle, and as such, different factors will impact the continued performance
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The benefits of ADAS
Driving safety is the number one benefit of ADAS. The combination of intuitive software and high-performing hardware helps to reduce human error while on the road and can mitigate a diverse array of accidents. As visibility and impaired driving comprise a large portion of motor vehicle accidents, ADAS helps to target potential dangers and intervene in real-time for a much safer overall driving experience.
Understanding what happens to ADAS systems in cars after accidents
It's relatively common for drivers to have minor bumps and scrapes while on the road. Of course, fender benders and more serious accidents can happen. ADAS systems and sensors can be knocked out of alignment quite easily and don't have self-diagnostic capabilities to be able to alert drivers if something goes wrong. While these systems shouldn't be heavily relied upon, having them there as a backup can make drivers become even a little complacent, so making sure that they function correctly can make a huge difference.
Even the slightest misalignment can change the trajectory of a camera or sensor - and this means that they could be looking at the wrong part of the road as you drive. While you may not think that a shift as minimal as a degree will have much impact, this could spell the difference between seeing small obstacles in the road ahead of time or missing seemingly invisible potholes. As you may well know, different issues on the road can have a significant impact on how well you drive, and actively addressing these could help you to avoid a range of accidents.
Cameras and sensors are often placed around windshields and near the wheel axis or arches, so even the smallest damage or manipulation in these areas could cause misalignment. For example, having a chip repaired or taking your car in for a tire rotation could warrant a quick dynamic ADAS system check by your mechanic.
Do ADAS checks come as part of standard automotive care ?
The answer to this is that dynamic ADAS testing should occur as standard during automotive care with a mechanic, but you should always double-check to be sure. Dynamic tests will typically involve professionals well-versed in the intrinsics of ADAS systems. They will take the car out and check both performance and calibration on different road surfaces and under varying conditions, with the correct tools to hand, such as OEM tailored diagnostic tools. This could require two experts.
For more in-depth needs, static ADAS testing should be performed. This is where a trained professional will have a look at the software and hardware involved with ADAS systems in a controlled environment. Everything from a level floor to adjustable lighting and zero natural light will be required to properly check sensor and camera alignment and capabilities. Depending on the make and model of your car and the outlined manufacturer standards, this could take around 1–2 hours.
What can drivers do to ensure ADAS systems perform ?
Drivers likely won't be aware of misalignment and won't have the ability to perform the correct diagnostics, maintenance and corrections as professionals. This means that the best thing you can do is ensure that checks are performed every time the car enters the shop, and be vigilant about car maintenance as part of your responsibility to drive safely.