{"id":5542,"date":"2020-05-06T12:20:26","date_gmt":"2020-05-06T10:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=5542"},"modified":"2020-05-06T12:20:26","modified_gmt":"2020-05-06T10:20:26","slug":"driver-assistance-systems-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2020\/05\/06\/driver-assistance-systems-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Your Obligations Regarding Repair of Driver Assistance Systems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems\u202f(ADAS) are intelligent electronic systems that use sensors and cameras to enhance safe driving. ADAS includes passive features that alert the driver of potentially dangerous situations and active features that intervene to avoid a collision.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s cars are technological wonders. It is estimated that a modern high-end car has 100 million lines of code, more\u00a0than what was found on the Space Shuttle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of that code is the result of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that are now finding\u00a0their\u00a0way into today\u2019s vehicles. If you are not familiar with ADAS, they are electronic\u00a0safety\u00a0systems that\u00a0assist in\u00a0driving or parking. Things like lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring,\u00a0and parking assist all fall under the ADAS umbrella.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While\u00a0these devices are designed to keep drivers safe, they cannot eliminate all accidents. In the event of an accident\u00a0\u2014\u00a0or even something as simple as replacing a cracked windshield\u00a0\u2014 it will be necessary to make sure that these devices are working properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you think you don’t need to worry because ADAS is a relatively new technology with limited use on vehicles, think again. While in 2015 only 6% of all light-duty vehicles were equipped with automatic emergency braking, in 2018 that percentage soared to 44.5%. The take rate for adaptive cruise control is at 34.6%, while 47.9% of cars are now equipped with blind-spot monitoring technology.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some car companies are even beginning to make ADAS technology standard on their newest models. Consequently, it is expected that the percentage of vehicles equipped with ADAS will continue to increase.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are\u00a0a number of\u00a0instances when ADAS will need to be recalibrated: following a collision when a windshield is replaced, following a suspension repair, after an ECM, PCM,\u00a0or ECU is replaced and following a front-end alignment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sounds simple. However, according to Frank LaViola, vice president of sales and marketing at AirPro Diagnostics, an automotive technology development and service company, most collision repair shops are not prepared to recalibrate ADAS. Further, they are not even aware of the need for recalibration. Failure to recalibrate ADAS following one of the above events could result in it not functioning properly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LaViola gave this example:\u00a0Forward-facing cameras are often\u00a0built into windshields. During a windshield replacement, the technician\u00a0must disassemble parts\u00a0that may\u00a0include\u00a0the camera. Since the camera helps judge how close a vehicle is to the one in front of it \u2014\u00a0allowing the automatic emergency braking function to take over \u2014 if it is not recalibrated properly\u00a0the camera\u00a0will not be able to judge distance or speed and therefore may not activate. The result\u00a0could be a collision as the following car ran into the back of the lead car.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LaViola is not blaming collision shop technicians, but instead\u00a0citing\u00a0lack of training on the need to recalibrate these devices as part of the collision repair.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Repair Protocols\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

For fleet owners, it is incumbent on them to understand the ADAS technologies on their vehicles and alert the collision repair shop. Then, they need to\u00a0ensure that the collision facility uses OEM-approved procedures to repair components that may include ADAS technology.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nearly every\u00a0automaker has identified proper repair protocol of ADAS following a collision.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Automaker\u2019s position statements on a variety of topics,\u00a0including pre- and post-accident repair scanning,\u00a0can be found at OEM1STOP. (www.OEM1TOP.com)\u00a0A word of caution about scan tools\u00a0\u2014\u00a0LaViola says that 92% of today\u2019s scan tools don’t cover 2019 or\u00a02020\u00a0model-year\u00a0vehicles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Excerpt of\u00a0General Motors\u2019\u00a0Position\u00a0Statement on Pre- and Post-Scan of Collision Vehicles\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

General Motors takes the position that all vehicles being assessed for collision damage repairs must be tested for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) during the repair estimation in order to identify the required repairs. Additionally, the vehicle must be re-tested after all repairs are complete in order to verify that the faults have been repaired and new faults have not been introduced\u00a0during the course of\u00a0repairs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even minor body damage or glass replacement may result in damage to one or more safety-related systems on the vehicle. Any action that results in loss of battery-supplied voltage and disconnection of electrical circuits requires that the vehicle is subsequently tested to ensure proper electrical function.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many safety and security-related components, sensors and Electronic Control Units (ECUs) require calibration and\/or learns when replaced. These systems must be repaired according to the corresponding GM repair procedures in Service Information (GMSi).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This raises the question of whether a fleet owner is obligated to purchase ADAS on new vehicles. According to Wesley Hurst, who heads the mobility and vehicle use practice at the Polsinelli law firm, \u201cof course, while the vehicle needs to comply with federal and state safety and equipment directives, generally, there is no duty to install particular types of optional systems on the vehicles you acquire.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Hurst notes that there is a pending Pennsylvania case alleging that a truck fleet operator may have an obligation to provide a collision warning and automatic brake system on a fleet truck used by a commercial lessee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The judge denied a motion to dismiss by the commercial fleet operator and suggested there could be a factual question as to whether the optional warning and brake systems should have been provided.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if you do acquire an ADAS-equipped vehicle \u201cYou have taken on a responsibility of maintaining it consistent with the (original equipment manufacturer) directives,\u201d Hurst says. \u201cWhat that means in real terms is being thoughtful about the service \u00a0providers you utilize to repair the vehicle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you demonstrate thoughtfulness in selecting a repair provider? Hurst suggests that best practices could include asking about certifications and experience with these types of systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

LaViola suggests\u00a0asking the\u00a0repairer\u00a0following questions:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n