Driving for long hours on the road or in the stop-start traffic of the M1 can be difficult and dangerous. Accidents often occur when tired drivers accidentally swerve out of their lane or into another car. Premier Windscreens has a solution - there’s a helping hand that warns you when you doze off or leave your car’s lane. We are here to take you through everything you’ll need to know about Advanced Driver Assist Systems, why they need calibrating, and how they can help you on the road.
What is ADAS?
ADAS refer to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and come in various forms. In this article, we’d like to introduce you to exciting versions of ADAS that will make your driving experience safer than ever before.
Lane Departure Warning System
Lane departure doesn’t always lead to accidents, but it’s undeniable that it happens often and it’s extremely risky when there are other cars around. With a lane departure system, a warning sound will be set off each time your car moves off the lane without a turn signal on. Some vehicles also come with a feature called Lane Keep Assist (LKA). This system can actually steer the vehicle back into the center of the lane, in an event where you might not be quick enough to respond yourself.
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) System
An AEB detects when an imminent crash is about to occur. It will then alert you to take corrective actions. If no actions are taken, emergency brakes will be applied automatically to prevent the crash from occurring. A lighter version of the AEB is the forward-collision warning system. This system only monitors the distance between your vehicle and the one in front, warning you of an impending crash without any braking.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Cruise controls have been around for more than a decade. They keep your car at a consistent speed...definitely allowing you to rest your feet when driving long distances. Recently, newer versions called adaptive cruise control or dynamic cruise control have been introduced into the automotive industry. This newer autopilot system will adjust the speed of your car to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, allowing cruise control to be turned on even when there are other cars around.
Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB) System
Much like the AEB mentioned above, the PAEB is also an automatic emergency braking system. However, unlike a normal AEB system, the PAEB has been designed to identify pedestrians on the road and brake when an imminent crash is happening, if the driver has not performed the appropriate corrective action.
This all sounds great, but do these systems really work? Let's find out.
Does ADAS Work?
Firstly, lane departure warning systems have been shown to lower rates of single-vehicle, sideswipe, and head-on crashes of all severities by 11%, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Furthermore, research has shown that these systems lower rates of injury crashes of the same types by 21%. By the year 2020, if a vehicle manufacturer is trying to achieve a 5-star crash test rating for a vehicle, that vehicle will have to have an Advanced Driver Assist System to do so.
In short, the answer is a resounding “yes”. However, it’s important to note that ADAS are here to assist you and they are not a replacement driver. Hence, it's vital that you still pay attention to the road while driving at all times.
What does this have to do with my windscreen?
The sensing devices involved in ADAS are often mounted behind or directly to the windscreen, including cameras, computer imaging software, radars, and various sensors. Any slight physical change to your car, particularly to your windscreen, can make these sensing devices malfunction.
ADAS Calibration
ADAS calibration involves aligning these sensing devices in your car so they function properly. A dynamic calibration process requires a specially trained technician to take your car out for a drive, while a static calibration process uses specialist tools to calibrate the ADAS while your car is stationary.
According to every manufacturer, ADAS recalibration is mandatory during the following scenarios:
- Windscreen replacement
- Collision
- Replacement change in tires or ride height
- ADAS lights are on or flashing
You’ve come to the Gold Coast's ultimate destination if your vehicle requires ADAS recalibration! Our technicians at Premier Windscreens are well-equipped and experienced in both auto-glass replacement and ADAS recalibration under the one roof. Our recalibrations are done to the manufacturer's specifications of your vehicle to ensure that your ADAS continues to keep you and your family safe and on the road. If you’d like to find out more about windshield repair, replacement, or ADAS recalibration, feel free to contact our experts or visit our website for a free quote today!