ADAS equipped vehicles come with a suite of protective and preventative safety features. With the latest versions of ADAS the vehicle interprets and analyses its surroundings and is prepared to support if necessary.

It works by using a set of cameras, radar, infrared sensors and other equipment to detect or correct potentially dangerous situations.

In our experience many customers are unaware their vehicles have these features and whilst they may be prepared to spend money on mechanical repairs, they balk at spending money on what they perceive as gadgets. Unfortunately, it is not a ‘fit & forget’ or self-correcting situation. ADAS must work as intended!

The following are some ADAS features, the terminology may vary between manufacturers and newer features are being added all the time

Adaptive headlights/Pixel LED. These automatically shade out approaching vehicles by adjusting pixels, maximising visibility and providing the best possible illumination under all conditions.

AVAS. Acoustic Vehicle Alert System. Compulsory by July 2021 for all new electric vehicles in the EU. This emits a continuous sound when moving 20kph or slower or when reversing. The sounds are created with the aim of increased safety for pedestrians and cyclists around the vehicle, they are unique, a natural and distinctive addition to the soundscape of the outside world and can be applied for other uses like when opening doors.

Road Sign Information. Road signs can be read and viewed on the main display. There may also be a speed alert function which warns the driver if they exceed the posted speed limit.

ACC. Adaptive Cruise Control. It is possible to choose between Cruise Control and Adaptive Cruise Control, which also adapts to slower vehicles in front, even when coming to a stop. When Adaptive Cruise Control is activated, Pilot Assist can also be activated. This advanced driver assistance function helps to keep the vehicle in the middle of the lane, with gentle steering inputs. The way the system operates can vary. It could be radar based or camera based.

Pilot Assist. A driver assistance system which can be turned on and off, providing acceleration, braking and steering assistance up to defined speed limits. Detection systems for other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists utilise steering assistance and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) to help make interactions between the vehicle and everything around it safer.

AEB/ESA. Autonomous Emergency Braking/Emergency Stop Assist. This uses lidar, radar or cameras to anticipate possible collisions This provides autonomous pre-braking in the event of an imminent collision to ensure the most efficient braking possible. It also supplements the driver’s braking if it determines that it will not be enough to avoid the collision. 

CTA/RCTA. Cross/Rear traffic alert with auto braking. When reversing out of a parking space, with the view blocked by cars parked on either side, radar in the rear bumper check for approaching vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. 

360° Surround view camera/helicopter view. Manoeuvring or parking in tight spaces can be difficult. This provides a top-down view on the main display of the surrounding situation. 

Run off protection.  Using cameras and radar, this preventative system helps to steer the vehicle if it calculates that the car will go off the road. Active day and night, the function can provide automatic steering assistance to steer the car back onto the road. In more severe lane departures, a short brake pulse will be added. The driver can override the steering assistance at any time. 

BSD Blind Spot Detection with steer assist. This warns the driver of vehicles in the blind spots, often with a marker in each side mirror. If the driver attempts to change lanes, using the turn signal, the marker will flash to warn against doing so. If the driver continues to change lanes, steering input will be automatically applied in order to avoid a collision. 

Park Assist. Ultrasonic sensors in the front and rear bumpers tell you how close you are to an obstacle, when manoeuvring slowly or parking. The distance is shown graphically on the centre display and an intermittent warning sound increases in frequency the closer the car gets to the obstacle. 

Collision avoidance (braking & steering). Detection systems for other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists utilise steering assistance and autonomous emergency braking (AEB), along with incrementally tightening seatbelts, to minimise risk of collision or injury. 

LKA. Lane Keep Assist. Active at defined speeds, this system course-corrects the vehicle if it comes close to crossing a lane marking, both by alerting the driver with vibrations in the steering wheel and automatically steering back to the centre of the lane. 

Driver alert control. This system sends audio and visual cues to the driver when it detects that they may be tired or otherwise distracted which it determines by measuring where the car is in relation to the lane markings. These cues are an audio chime and a symbol in the driver display, sometimes with directions to the nearest rest area. 

V2V/V2I/V2X. Vehicle to Vehicle connected safety.  A cloud-based system that uses real-time information about approaching road conditions, if the vehicles ahead have activated their hazard lights, and whether or not the approaching road surface is slippery. Not only does this keep you informed and prepared, but it also transmits this data to other connected cars, creating greater safety and increased awareness.  

Post impact braking.  If a collision occurs in which the airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners have been deployed, the brakes automatically activate, preventing any further damage to the vehicle and its surroundings. 

Rear collision warning and mitigation. If a vehicle approaches from behind and there is a risk of collision, the vehicle tries to get the approaching driver’s attention by flashing all indicators at a high rate. It also incrementally tightens the seatbelts and activates full auto-braking. 

SAT Satellite-Aided Transmission. Pre-selects gears based on the behaviour of the driver and its location geographically. 

Why do we need it? 

Safety!

Most road accidents are caused by human error. Advanced safety systems were developed to automate and enhance aspects of the driving experience to increase safety and safe driving habits. ADAS have been proven to reduce the number of fatalities on the road by also reducing the chance for human error.

These technologies can be split into two main categories: those that automate driving, such as autonomous emergency braking systems, and those that help improve drivers' awareness, such as lane departure warning systems.

The entire purpose of these safety systems is to increase road safety, reducing vehicular injuries by decreasing the overall number of traffic accidents. They also limit the number of insurance claims due to minor accidents in which there is property damage but no injuries. 

Minor damage - how does it affect me? 

If you rely on these features in your everyday driving they need to be working correctly, this is vitally important in full autonomous mode.  

In some cases, certain aspects of ADAS can be switched off. You must then consider your insurance company’s reaction in the event of an accident as to whether the incident could have been avoided. These features are not necessarily an optional extra, some are installed as standard by the manufacturer, perhaps for market differentiation, or by legislation. Replacing damaged sensors, whether ultrasonic, radar or camera can be expensive and will require re-calibration.  

The Need for ADAS Calibration 

ADAS features depend on cameras, radar and other detectors to monitor road conditions and detect danger before acting. These systems will work correctly only if the sensors and other equipment is accurately aligned with respect to the direction of the vehicle. When these components are displaced due to accidents or repairs, realignment is necessary for correct functioning of the system.

Many manufacturers require calibration checks even after a simple adjustment like a wheel alignment because it could upset the alignment of the sensors for lane departure and adaptive cruise control. Similarly, a windscreen replacement can change the angle of the cameras on which many features like adaptive headlights and lane departure warning depend on. A minor bumper collision could affect the accuracy of the sensors.

Insurers, in general, do not offer driver discounts for ADAS-fitted vehicles. This is due to a lack of solid data from automobile manufacturers proving increased safety on the road, though some insurance companies have recognized the significant potential of ADAS to reduce the number of driving-relating accidents.

While the technology is available on the market, many drivers are overwhelmed with the options in that they do not know how to choose which would serve them best. Furthermore, even with the installation and implementation of such systems, there is the issue of training drivers to use them to the fullest advantage in order to maximize the risk-limiting factors of the system features. 

How does it affect Little Knox? 

Although we are not major collision repairers, we do repair minor damage to all panels. ADAS is unlikely to be affected by, for example, minor scratches to the roof, bonnet, boot/tailgate and doors. ADAS could, however, be affected by minor damage to bumpers, grilles, badges, headlights or wheel alignment.

We have a responsibility to be sure that ADAS is working correctly. If, after repair, the ADAS requires re-calibration the customer needs be advised since there is an additional cost for this service (unless it has been agreed beforehand). In the event of a customer objecting to the re-calibration a signed indemnity will be needed absolving us for liability in the event of an ADAS related incident.